Judgment at Delphi
For 6 level 10 PCs, 3 to 3.5 hours, 3 encounters. Do not kill Apollo.
📜 Session Summary
| Style Sacred courtroom mystery that turns into a temple siege when the lie sheds its human voice. |
| Win Condition The false oracle is exposed, Apollo's shrine remains intact, and the Python-spawn is slain or banished as a monster. |
| Loss Condition Delphi accepts a counterfeit judgment; pilgrims riot, priests vanish, and the temple closes under living coils. |
| Players 6 × Level 10 · 3–3.5 hrs · 3 encounters |
| Key Ally Ion the Archive Acolyte (recruit Enc. Enc. 1 or Enc. 2) · Maguffin: Sunlit Tripod Shard |
| Setting Delphi — the omphalos of the world: marble forecourt jostling with pilgrims, a laurel-queue that hides one knife, a marble hearing hall where the bronze tripod sits cracked, and the inner sanctuary below the floor where the Python-spawn has been coiled for six years waiting for this moment. |
| Atmosphere Sacred institution under quiet siege — the lie is old and patient; truth-telling is a bureaucratic act until suddenly it is a fight for the world's oracle-center; Apollo's silence is louder than his voice ever was. |
| Materials White marble, laurel wreaths, wax tablets, bronze filigree, sacred smoke from laurel-wood fires, cracked omphalos stone, oracle-grade incense that stings the eyes. |
| Tone Forensic and tense before it becomes mythic and physical — the party will feel like investigators who suddenly become monster-hunters; both halves are equally real at Delphi. |
Description
Theoxena, Senior Pythia finds the party before they enter the temple — she does not want them to enter it in the normal order, through the public queue, because the public queue is currently being managed by a voice that is not Apollo's. She gives them the Sunlit Tripod Shard without explaining what broke the original tripod and walks away before they can ask questions. There is a wax tablet already in the shard's wrapping: two prophecies, one in clean hexameter, one with a single syllable repeated where it shouldn't be. The same syllable, the same mistake, twice.
The Python-Spawn of the False Voice has been inside the temple for six years. It speaks in Apollo's register. It knows pilgrims' names. It issues prophecies that are technically true and structurally wrong — they lead people to the right action for the wrong reason, degrading the oracle's function one verdict at a time. It cannot be exposed through accusation. It must be exposed through evidence, presented in a legitimate proceeding, to a legitimate assembly — because if it is merely killed without that process, three senior priests are implicated in its harboring and Delphi falls into civil seizure.
The forecourt smells of sacred smoke and old stone and the specific anxiety of people who have traveled a week to ask a question they already half-know the answer to. The wax tablets in the archive have a smell — old beeswax and incense — that Ion identifies immediately as the false oracle's forge-medium. The bronze tripod in the hearing hall is cracked across the left leg in a way that everyone has noticed and no one has repaired for six years. The omphalos stone in the inner sanctuary is cool to the touch even in summer, which it should not be.
DM — Sunlit Tripod Shard Payoffs Across Acts: In Enc. 1, hold the Shard near a forged tablet: the wax shifts color (no check required) and the tablet casts a crooked shadow — automatic Investigation success for that clue. In Enc. 2, placing the Shard on the hearing-hall floor during testimony: the shadow from the Daemon's smoke-script points back at its source (reveals the Daemon's position, removes its concealment). In Enc. 3, setting the Shard into the cracked tripod leg pins the Python-spawn's true body for 1 full round — it cannot use legendary actions and loses concealment entirely while pinned.
Major Beats
- The Two Tablets. The forged prophecy and the true one sit in the same archive drawer. History DC 14 to identify the metrical error. Religion DC 15 to know that error type is unique to oracle-forgery, not transcription. Ion (if present or recruited) confirms the pattern immediately and can't understand why no one else noticed — that reaction is itself evidence of the Daemon's memory-blurring effect.
- The Armed Pilgrim. One petitioner in the hearing queue is hiding a curved knife under laurel leaves. Insight DC 15: they are terrified, not aggressive — they were given the knife by a voice they heard at the oracle and told to bring it "for protection." Perception DC 14 sees the shape under the wreath. This is a test case: how the party handles this person tells Theoxena everything about whether they can be trusted with the formal proceeding.
- The Shadow on the Breathing Wall. The Tripod Shard's shadow in the hearing hall points at the east wall when held. Investigation DC 13: there is a seam in the marble there that wasn't in the original plans. DC 17: the seam moves when the false oracle speaks — something on the other side is breathing with the voice.
- The False Voice Knows. The Python-spawn speaks the party's names before they are introduced. Arcana DC 15: this is not divination — it's linguistic absorption; the voice has been listening through the vents for long enough to recognize everyone who matters. Insight DC 14: it uses the names deliberately to establish social authority, not to demonstrate power.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sunlit Tripod Shard | Noon-shadow bronze that points at lies and pins a foe's true body. | Expose the false oracle and pin the Python-spawn without slaying Apollo. |
Creature / Enemy List
| Creature | Easy | Med | Hard | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laurel-Knife Zealots | — | med | hard | CR 3 · Fanatic infiltrators |
| Vapor-Script Daemon | — | med | hard | CR 5 · Illusion and clue corrupter |
| Temple Coil Guardian | — | med | hard | CR 6 · Grappler defender |
| Python-Spawn of the False Voice | — | med | hard | CR 10 · Boss, prophetic serpent monster |
| Ion the Archive Acolyte | — | 1 | 1 | Recruit Enc. Enc. 1 or Enc. 2 |
Encounter 1 — The Pilgrim Docket
Overview
The forecourt is a controlled chaos of people wanting answers — merchants, soldiers, mothers, a priest's nephew in civilian dress. The Laurel-Knife Zealots are present in the queue, hidden, waiting to see if the party will make a public accusation that gives them cover to act. The archive stair is open but watched; Ion has been hovering near it since dawn, too frightened to go up alone. The party must find three distinct evidence categories before the riot clock marks 3 strikes (public false accusations, visible violence, or allowing a Zealot to make contact with a petitioner).
🗺 Terrain
Forecourt (80×60 ft): Laurel queue ropes (difficult terrain if bypassed), offering tables (half cover from below), archive stair (visible from all points, DC 12 Stealth to use unseen), public judgment dais (elevated 3 ft, full crowd line-of-sight). Key features: Smoke vents in the floor (light obscurement in 3 zones, changes positions each round on initiative 20), curtained priest doors behind the dais (DC 13 Perception to see through gaps).
Non-Combat Options
- Path A — Archive Quietly with Ion: Trust Ion's pattern (let him lead; DC 13 Insight to see he's genuinely right, not paranoid). Going to the archive with Ion instead of the dais: he finds the forged-tablet drawer in one action. DC 14 History (or automatic with Shard present) confirms the metrical error. No public attention generated — does not advance Riot clock.
- Path B — The Armed Pilgrim Intervention: Instead of exposing the pilgrim, the party privately questions them (DC 15 Insight for full story; DC 14 Persuasion to persuade them to surrender the knife voluntarily). On success: the pilgrim becomes a witness to the voice that armed them — their testimony is powerful Enc. 2 evidence. Handling them publicly without proof advances the Riot clock 1 strike.
- Path C — Smoke Residue on Forged Tablets: The Shard held near any forged tablet reveals crooked wax-color and smoke-smell. DC 12 Investigation to collect residue sample (no roll with Shard). Confronting a senior priest with the residue (DC 15 Persuasion) gets them to admit they noticed it but were afraid to act — potential Enc. 2 witness, but advancing too fast alerts a Zealot.
Mechanics
- Find 3 clue categories before 3 Riot clock strikes. Each category found = 1 automatic success toward Enc. 2 debate's DC 16 challenge. Clue categories: (1) metrical error in archive tablet, (2) bribe route (money trail from pilgrim to oracle-clerk), (3) smoke residue on forged tablets. Each Non-Combat Path above maps to one category.
- Skills: Insight DC 15, Religion DC 15, History DC 14, Investigation DC 15, Performance DC 16 (to keep a petitioner calm while evidence is gathered). Each skill can be used on each clue category once — Ion grants Advantage on one Religion or History check per scene.
- Riot clock: Public accusations without proof, visible combat, or a Zealot making pilgrim-contact each add 1 strike. At 3 strikes: Zealots emerge openly (combat trigger, +1 wave in Enc. 2).
- Recruit Ion: Trust his archive pattern (DC 13 Insight or just following him) and shield him from the senior priest who tries to silence him (DC 14 Persuasion or DC 15 Intimidation toward the priest). Ion then acts on party initiative in Enc. 2 and 3.
Creature Cards
Theoxena, Senior Pythia
Human oracle, exhausted servant of Apollo
Motivation. Restore true prophecy before the city condemns innocents under a stolen voice. She has been Pythia for eighteen years and has never doubted Apollo — she is doubting him now, which she experiences as personal failure rather than evidence of external threat.
Secret. She has not heard Apollo clearly for three nights and fears the silence is her fault. DC 14 Insight: she is performing confidence — there's something underneath it. DC 17: the three nights of silence correspond precisely to the three days since the Python-spawn sealed the omphalos chamber. She doesn't know that; she only knows the silence.
RP Hook. Formal and precise in manner — she treats every statement as testimony and listens for internal consistency the way other people listen for tone. If the party is sloppy with evidence, she corrects them without apology. If they are careful, she gives them more context than she originally planned to. Quote: "Apollo does not send silence as punishment. I am beginning to suspect this silence is not from him at all."
Hard rule. No violence against pilgrims, no framing Apollo as the enemy. DC 16 Persuasion to get her to even consider that the oracle voice might not be Apollo — she will get there on her own if presented with the crooked-shadow Shard evidence, but she needs to see it personally.
Sunlit Tripod Shard
Broken oracle bronze, truth focus
Appearance: A warm bronze triangle that casts noon shadows even at dusk.
Handout. "Set false words in true light. The shadow will point where the voice is hiding."
Enc. 1–2. Reveals contradictions in testimony or makes forged prophecies cast crooked shadows.
Enc. 3. Set into the cracked tripod to pin the Python-spawn's real body for 1 round.
Ion the Archive Acolyte
Medium Humanoid, Neutral · Recruitable Ally · Nervous researcher and witness handler
AC 13 | HP 46 | Speed 30 ft.
Role: Nervous researcher and witness handler
RECRUITMENT (Enc. Enc. 1 or Enc. 2). Protect him from blame, validate his archive clues, or let him question a priest under supervision.
Aid. Acts on party initiative when recruited; prefers nonlethal when asked.
Strike. Bronze lamp +5 to hit, 5 bludgeoning; once per scene, cites a record for advantage on Religion or History.
Laurel-Knife Zealots
Medium Creature · CR 3 · Fanatic infiltrators
AC 15 | HP 58 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. Believe the false oracle is an older, purer voice than Apollo's priests.
Attack. Curved knife +6 to hit, 8 slashing plus 7 poison.
Encounter 2 — Trial of the Crooked Verse
Overview
The hearing hall is formally convened. Seven priests sit on the bench. The assembly is seventy pilgrims and Delphian citizens. The false voice is participating — it doesn't speak through the oracle this time; it has agents on the bench and a Vapor-Script Daemon concealed in the smoke vents. The Daemon's job is to blur specific memories at key testimony moments: witnesses forget details, records read differently, the party's own recollections waver. The Tripod Shard and Ion are the only two resources that the Daemon cannot corrupt.
🗺 Terrain
Marble Hearing Hall (100×50 ft): Seven-priest bench (elevated 4 ft, authority zone — violence here triggers full riot), witness dais (center, visible to all), smoke vents in ceiling (3 active, Daemon can transit between them as Bonus Action). Bronze Tripod: Cracked-leg placement, 20 ft from bench — placing the Shard here is a deliberate action and requires a DC 14 Sleight of Hand to do without the presiding priest noticing and objecting. Curtained priest doors: Exit to inner sanctuary (Enc. 3 entry).
Non-Combat Options
- Path A — Shard on the Floor (Daemon Exposure): Set the Tripod Shard on the floor of the hearing hall at any point during testimony (free action if holding it). The Daemon's smoke-script memory-blur shows as a visible crooked shadow pointing back at the vent the Daemon occupies. This counts as 1 auto-success on the debate challenge and removes the Daemon's concealment this round. The Daemon must either reveal itself or flee the vent.
- Path B — Armed Pilgrim Testimony: If the armed pilgrim was handled well in Enc. 1 and is present, they give testimony of hearing "a voice in the smoke" directing them to bring the knife. DC 14 Persuasion to get them to testify publicly (they are scared). Successful testimony = 1 auto-success on debate + the assemby's Riot-sympathy resets to 0 regardless of Enc. 1 clock count.
- Path C — Ion's Archive Citation: Once per debate, Ion may cite a formal archive record (tablet inventory, date-log, spending record) that directly contradicts a planted memory. Auto-success on the current debate round; Daemon cannot retroactively corrupt a record Ion has physically held and read aloud.
Mechanics
- 5-success DC 16 debate challenge. Skills: Persuasion DC 16, Religion DC 15, Insight DC 16 (detecting planted testimony), History DC 15, Arcana DC 16 (identifying Daemon's corruption of memory). Each Non-Combat Path above grants 1 auto-success.
- Each failure: a Vapor-Script Daemon alters one memory — a witness changes testimony, a record shifts. Requires an additional DC 16 Investigation or History check to re-establish the correct version (costs one full action for a party member).
- Daemon combat threshold: If the Daemon is exposed (Path A or DC 17 Perception) and directly attacked, it fights for 2 rounds then retreats into the floor vents. It reappears in Enc. 3 if not killed here.
- Full debate win (5 successes, 0–2 failures): civilians evacuate before Enc. 3 begins. Theoxena blesses each party member — +4 bonus on one saving throw in Enc. 3, declared before the roll, usable once each. 3–4 successes: partial evacuation, Theoxena's blessing for the party member who presented the clearest evidence only.
Creature Cards
Theoxena, Senior Pythia
Human oracle, exhausted servant of Apollo
Motivation. Restore true prophecy before the city condemns innocents. She has been Pythia eighteen years and is now doubting Apollo for the first time — she experiences this as personal failure, not evidence of external threat.
Secret. Three nights' silence corresponds precisely to when the Python-spawn sealed the omphalos chamber — she doesn't know this connection. DC 14 Insight: performing confidence. DC 17: the timing.
RP Hook. Formal and precise. Treats every statement as testimony. Quote: "Apollo does not send silence as punishment. I am beginning to suspect this silence is not from him at all."
Hard rule. No pilgrim violence, no framing Apollo as enemy. DC 16 Persuasion to consider the voice may not be Apollo — she will reach this herself once shown the Shard's crooked shadow.
Sunlit Tripod Shard
Broken oracle bronze, truth focus
Appearance: A warm bronze triangle that casts noon shadows even at dusk.
Handout. "Set false words in true light. The shadow will point where the voice is hiding."
Enc. 1–2. Reveals contradictions in testimony or makes forged prophecies cast crooked shadows.
Enc. 3. Set into the cracked tripod to pin the Python-spawn's real body for 1 round.
Ion the Archive Acolyte
Medium Humanoid, Neutral · Recruitable Ally · Nervous researcher and witness handler
AC 13 | HP 46 | Speed 30 ft.
Role: Nervous researcher and witness handler
RECRUITMENT (Enc. Enc. 1 or Enc. 2). Protect him from blame, validate his archive clues, or let him question a priest under supervision.
Aid. Acts on party initiative when recruited; prefers nonlethal when asked.
Strike. Bronze lamp +5 to hit, 5 bludgeoning; once per scene, cites a record for advantage on Religion or History.
Vapor-Script Daemon
Medium Creature · CR 5 · Illusion and clue corrupter
AC 14 | HP 90 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. Dies into readable smoke if exposed by the Tripod Shard.
Attack. Smoke lash +7 to hit, 13 psychic; prophecy blur imposes disadvantage on one check.
Encounter 3 — Coils Around the Omphalos
Overview
The inner sanctuary is 40 ft below the hearing hall floor — accessed through the curtained priest doors when the debate ends (or when the party forces the issue). The Python-spawn has been down here six years. The omphalos stone sits at center, cracked. The true tripod dais has an empty bracket where the Shard belongs. Coils — shed scale-rings animated as constructs — seal two of the three exits on initiative 20, and a third coil begins reaching for the true tripod on Round 2. The Python-spawn itself is mostly concealed: its body fills the far wall and its head could be anywhere. The Tripod Shard pins the true head for one full round, and that is the kill window.
APL 10 — Deadly encounter (≈16,800 XP threshold for 6×L10). Python-Spawn CR 10 (5,900 XP) + 2× Temple Coil Guardian CR 6 (2,300 XP each) + 1× Vapor-Script Daemon CR 5 (1,800 XP) + 3× Laurel-Knife Zealots CR 3 (700 XP each) = ~14,200 XP × 1.15 (sealed-room modifier) ≈ 16,330 XP effective. For Hard, remove one Coil Guardian or the Daemon (if killed in Enc. 2).
🗺 Terrain
Inner Sanctuary (80×50 ft, 15 ft ceiling): Omphalos stone (center, 5 ft radius, full cover from below if prone — do not damage, sacred). Tripod dais (north, 3 ft elevation, Shard bracket — Action to insert Shard). Smoke fissures in floor (4 locations; initiative 20 fissure pulses: DC 15 CON or poisoned 1 round by oracle-incense). Living coils sealing exits (treat as AC 14 / 50 HP objects; attacking them rather than the boss is suboptimal but valid). Pillar row (east/west walls): Each Coil Guardian can crush a pillar as Action: 10 ft debris fall, DC 15 Dex or 2d10 bludgeoning + difficult terrain.
Non-Combat Options
- Path A — Tripod Shard Insertion (Preferred Win): Insert the Shard into the tripod bracket (Action, DC 14 Sleight of Hand to do while a coil is threatening — DC 10 otherwise). On success: Python-spawn's true head is revealed and pinned for 1 full round — it cannot use legendary actions, loses concealment, and all attacks against it have Advantage. This is the kill window; use it.
- Path B — Oracle-Smoke Dispersal: The sanctuary's smoke fissures are the Python-spawn's communication medium. Blocking all four fissures (stuffing them with cloth, stone, or a Create or Destroy Water spell) before Round 4 forces the Python-spawn to fight at Disadvantage on attack rolls for 2 rounds (it loses the voice-environment advantage). DC 14 Athletics per fissure; each blocked fissure removes one Laurel-Knife Zealot reinforce option.
- Path C — Formal Exposure First: If Enc. 2 debate was fully won and the priests witnessed its outcome (they followed down), one of them may formally declare the Python-spawn as the source of the false voice during combat (Persuasion DC 16 to convince a priest to do so despite being terrified). Formal exposure prevents post-combat blame falling on Apollo's priests — the temple remains functional after this session, and Theoxena can continue her work without suspension inquiry.
Mechanics
- Initiative 20: a coil seals one exit (starts blocking after 2 rounds if uncleared); a coil reaches for the tripod dais (arrives Round 2 — must be cleared or Shard access requires a DC 16 Acrobatics/Athletics check); a fissure pulses (DC 15 CON or poisoned 1 round).
- Apollo is absent — sacred law remains: striking the omphalos stone directly gives the Python-spawn Advantage on its next attack. Striking the tripod before the Shard is inserted gives it Advantage for 1 round.
- Python-spawn legendary actions: Advance (1), Strike (1). Its oracle venom (recharge 5–6) forces DC 16 WIS save or a target is stunned by false visions until start of their next turn — they "hear" the false oracle saying something personally devastating. DM should prep one false vision per PC in advance.
- Slaying the Python-spawn: coils collapse, exits reopen, smoke fissures seal. Exposing it formally first (Path C) prevents the three senior priests' implication — temple function survives intact. Without formal exposure, the temple closes for thirty days minimum during investigation.
Creature Cards
Sunlit Tripod Shard
Broken oracle bronze, truth focus
Appearance: A warm bronze triangle that casts noon shadows even at dusk.
Handout. "Set false words in true light. The shadow will point where the voice is hiding."
Enc. 1–2. Reveals contradictions in testimony or makes forged prophecies cast crooked shadows.
Enc. 3. Set into the cracked tripod to pin the Python-spawn's real body for 1 round.
Vapor-Script Daemon
Medium Creature · CR 5 · Illusion and clue corrupter
AC 14 | HP 90 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. Dies into readable smoke if exposed by the Tripod Shard.
Attack. Smoke lash +7 to hit, 13 psychic; prophecy blur imposes disadvantage on one check.
Temple Coil Guardian
Medium Creature · CR 6 · Grappler defender
AC 16 | HP 125 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. Animated scale and stone shed by the buried Python-spawn.
Attack. Constrict +8 to hit, 18 bludgeoning and grappled; bite adds 10 poison.
Python-Spawn of the False Voice
Large Creature · CR 10 · Boss, prophetic serpent monster · Boss
AC 18 | HP 196 | Speed 40 ft.
Role: Boss, prophetic serpent monster
Note. Boss last. May be slain as a monster without harming Apollo or his office.
Hard encounter focus. Win condition may be steal, escape, disable, or drive-off — not always kill.
Multiattack / Assault. Bite and constrict; oracle venom recharges on 5-6 for DC 16 Wisdom or stunned by false visions.
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
Theoxena, Senior Pythia
Human oracle, exhausted servant of Apollo
Motivation. Restore true prophecy before the city condemns innocents under a stolen voice.
Secret. She has not heard Apollo clearly for three nights and fears the silence is her fault.
Hard rule. She will not permit violence against pilgrims or claims that Apollo himself is the enemy.
Sunlit Tripod Shard
Broken oracle bronze, truth focus
Appearance: A warm bronze triangle that casts noon shadows even at dusk.
Handout. "Set false words in true light. The shadow will point where the voice is hiding."
Enc. 1–2. Reveals contradictions in testimony or makes forged prophecies cast crooked shadows.
Enc. 3. Set into the cracked tripod to pin the Python-spawn's real body for 1 round.
Ion the Archive Acolyte
Medium Humanoid, Neutral · Recruitable Ally · Nervous researcher and witness handler
AC 13 | HP 46 | Speed 30 ft.
Role: Nervous researcher and witness handler
RECRUITMENT (Enc. Enc. 1 or Enc. 2). Protect him from blame, validate his archive clues, or let him question a priest under supervision.
Aid. Acts on party initiative when recruited; prefers nonlethal when asked.
Strike. Bronze lamp +5 to hit, 5 bludgeoning; once per scene, cites a record for advantage on Religion or History.
Laurel-Knife Zealots
Medium Creature · CR 3 · Fanatic infiltrators
AC 15 | HP 58 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. Believe the false oracle is an older, purer voice than Apollo's priests.
Attack. Curved knife +6 to hit, 8 slashing plus 7 poison.
Vapor-Script Daemon
Medium Creature · CR 5 · Illusion and clue corrupter
AC 14 | HP 90 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. Dies into readable smoke if exposed by the Tripod Shard.
Attack. Smoke lash +7 to hit, 13 psychic; prophecy blur imposes disadvantage on one check.
Temple Coil Guardian
Medium Creature · CR 6 · Grappler defender
AC 16 | HP 125 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. Animated scale and stone shed by the buried Python-spawn.
Attack. Constrict +8 to hit, 18 bludgeoning and grappled; bite adds 10 poison.
Python-Spawn of the False Voice
Large Creature · CR 10 · Boss, prophetic serpent monster · Boss
AC 18 | HP 196 | Speed 40 ft.
Role: Boss, prophetic serpent monster
Note. Boss last. May be slain as a monster without harming Apollo or his office.
Hard encounter focus. Win condition may be steal, escape, disable, or drive-off — not always kill.
Multiattack / Assault. Bite and constrict; oracle venom recharges on 5-6 for DC 16 Wisdom or stunned by false visions.
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.
Sunlit Tripod Shard
Reward · Wondrous · 1/Short Rest
Mechanics. Once per short rest, as an action, you cast noon-light from the shard: until the end of your next turn, forged documents, illusionary voices, and false prophecy within 30 feet cast crooked shadows you can see. Once per long rest, as an action, choose a creature within 30 feet that is invisible, shapechanged, or possessing another body; it must succeed on a DC 15 Charisma saving throw or its true body is outlined in sunlight and it can't benefit from being invisible or from possession until the end of your next turn.
Appearance. A warm bronze triangle that casts noon shadows even at dusk.
Lore. A broken piece of Delphi's tripod, still hungry for true light on false words.
Quote. "Set false words in true light. The shadow will point where the voice is hiding." — Tripod Shard
Earn when: Expose the false oracle and pin the Python-spawn without slaying Apollo.