The Atlantean Toll

One-Shot · 6 Players · Level 8 · ~3–3.5 hrs · Trireme + Enemy Galley · Atlantean Boarding

Style: Elemental skirmish → Galley clash → Deep-beast boss | Win: Break the false toll; defeat or drive off the Keto-Spawn

Ship: Main 40×50 + bow 15 + stern 25 = 90 ft · 15 ft ram · 2nd ship Atlantean galley (≈70×25) starboard, 5–10 ft gap / grappled.

"Show the true bronze when false kings claim the wave — the deep-beast bows to the stamp, not the spear." — Bronze Tithe-Token

Major Beats

Clerk of the Blue Tithe + Tithe-Token; mist onto trireme mid-crossing.
Enc. 1: Steam mephits boil from oar-ports as the galley signals.
Enc. 2: Boarding — Atlanteans + Brine-Touched; recruit Wave-Caller via Token.
Enc. 3: Keto-Spawn climbs the ram onto the bow deck.

Creature / Enemy List

Creature	Easy	Med	Hard	Mini
Steam Mephit	2	4	4	×4
Atlantean (Sahuagin)	2	4	4+wave	×4
Brine-Touched (Kuo-toa)	2	3	4	×4
Triton Wave-Caller	—	1	1	Caster ×1
Triton Guard (allies)	0	0–2	0–2	from ×10
Keto-Spawn (Boss)	adj	1	1	Deep-sea monster

Difficulty Scaling

Tier	Adjust
Easy	2 mephits; 2 Atlanteans; Keto HP 100, no LA
Medium ★	As written
Hard	Full mini caps; Keto HP 170; swallow recharge 5–6

A Clerk of the Blue Tithe delivers the Bronze Tithe-Token . Atlantean reavers demand a sea-tax Poseidon never blessed. Their galley runs alongside the party trireme; a deep hybrid beast is their enforcer. Authenticate the bronze — or feed the ram. Main deck 40×50 ft · raised bow +15 ft · raised stern +25 ft · 90 ft total length (tapered ends) · center mast/sail · 15 ft ram at bow. Board supports up to 2 additional ships . Place Atlantean galley (≈70×25 ft) starboard, 5–10 ft gap / grappled.

Creature / Enemy List

Creature	Counts / Notes
Steam Mephit	2 · 4 · 4
Atlantean	2 · 4 · 4+wave
Brine-Touched	2 · 3 · 4
Wave-Caller	1 · 1
Keto-Spawn	adj · 1 · 1

DM Tips

As Written ★ — 6 Players, Average Level 8: Baseline for this guide. Numbers, DCs, and win tracks assume six PCs at average level 8.
Easier: APL 4–6: reduce minion counts ~30%; DCs −2; boss loses one recharge or legendary option.
Harder: APL 10–12: boss HP +25–35%; +1 legendary action; add a lieutenant or extra wave.

Encounter 1 — Steam on the Water

4× Steam Mephits boil up from the oar-ports as the Atlantean galley signals. Soft opener; fog + scalding. Win: clear mephits; spot the galley (Perception DC 12). · 4× Steam Mephits boil up from the oar-ports as the Atlantean galley signals. Soft opener; fog + scalding. Win: clear mephits; spot the galley (Perception DC 12).

Death bursts threaten sail (fire). Create Water / gust helps.
Non-combat: Contests with buckets (Athletics DC 12 group) vent steam without full combat.

Encounter 2 — False Kings of the Wave

Grappling hooks. 4× Atlanteans + 3× Brine-Touched + Wave-Caller (hostile until Token shown).

Non-combat: Brandish Tithe-Token + Religion/Persuasion DC 14 → Wave-Caller orders a parley pause; cultists may still attack.
Combat: Blood Frenzy Atlanteans. Cut 3 grapple lines (AC 12/HP 8) to separate ships.
RECRUIT: Token authenticity → Wave-Caller + 2 Triton Guards aid Enc. 3.
Tip: RECRUITMENT. If the party shows the Tithe-Token as authentic Poseidon seal (Religion DC 12), the Wave-Caller switches sides in Enc. 3.

Encounter 3 — Keto-Spawn at the Ram (Boss)

Thrash (2). Each creature within 5 ft. Dex DC 15 or 10 (3d6) bludgeoning and prone. · Keto-Spawn climbs the 15 ft ram onto the bow deck. Optional: 2 remaining Atlanteans snipe from their galley.

Win: Beast 0 HP or driven to flee at ≤25% HP if Tithe-Token branded successfully this fight.
Bow deck = raised 15 ft zone; shoving it off (Str contest DC 15 while bloodied) deals 3d6 fall into its own thrash.
Tip: Wondrous Item (maguffin)

DM Callouts

RECRUITMENT. If the party shows the Tithe-Token as authentic Poseidon seal (Religion DC 12), the Wave-Caller switches sides in Enc. 3.
Wondrous Item (maguffin)

Extra Encounter Detail (from session guide)

Tip: Keep page-3 creature AC/HP lines visible while resolving Enc. 3.
Tip: Favor non-combat paths in Enc. 1–2; Enc. 3 should still feel Hard.

Quick combat reference

Steam Mephit — AC 10 | HP 21 | Speed 30 ft., fly 30 ft. · Small Elemental · CR 1/4 · Mini ×4
Atlantean Reaver (Sahuagin reskin) — AC 12 | HP 22 (4d8+4) | Speed 30 ft., swim 40 ft. · Medium Humanoid, Lawful Evil · CR 1 · Mini: Sahuagin ×4
Brine-Touched Cultist (Kuo-toa reskin) — AC 13 | HP 27 (5d8+5) | Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft. · Medium Humanoid, Neutral Evil · CR 1 · Mini: Kuo-toa ×4
Triton Wave-Caller — AC 14 | HP 65 (10d8+20) | Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft. · Medium Humanoid (Triton), Neutral · CR 4 · Mini: Triton cast
Keto-Spawn (Deep-Sea Monster) — AC 16 | HP 136 (16d10+48) | Speed 20 ft., swim 50 ft. · Large Monstrosity, Neutral Evil · CR 8 · Mini: Deep-sea angl
Triton Guard — AC 13 | HP 27 | Speed 30/swim 30 · Medium Humanoid (Triton), Neutral · CR 1 · Mini ×10 (use ≤4

Additional DM notes

**Non-combat:** Brandish Tithe-Token + Religion/Persuasion DC 14 → Wave-Caller orders a parley pause; cultists may still attack.
**RECRUIT:** Token authenticity → Wave-Caller + 2 **Triton Guards** aid Enc. 3.
14 (+2)**STR**12 (+1)**DEX**12 (+1)**CON**10 (+0)**INT**11 (+0)**WIS**9 (−1)**CHA
Limited minis.** Only 4 figures — use waves off-board if needed, or elite the four.
13 (+1)**STR**10 (+0)**DEX**12 (+1)**CON**11 (+0)**INT**10 (+0)**WIS**8 (−1)**CHA
12 (+1)**STR**14 (+2)**DEX**14 (+2)**CON**12 (+1)**INT**15 (+2)**WIS**16 (+3)**CHA
RECRUITMENT.** If the party shows the Tithe-Token as authentic Poseidon seal (Religion DC 12), the Wave-Caller switches sides in Enc. 3.
Enemy default.** Begins as Atlantean ally / hostage-priest on their galley.
Keto-Spawn** climbs the 15 ft ram onto the bow deck. Optional: 2 remaining Atlanteans snipe from their galley.
20 (+5)**STR**12 (+1)**DEX**17 (+3)**CON**4 (−3)**INT**12 (+1)**WIS**6 (−2)**CHA

Pacing helpers

Enc 1: End by ~45–50 min; if stuck, telegraph the non-combat path once.
Enc 2: Spend recruitment / maguffin early so Enc 3 is not a blank check.
Enc 3: Keep Hard, not Deadly — drop a minion wave before a TPK spiral.
Table tip: Restate win condition when HP dips; players often forget the maguffin.

STAT BLOCKS

Steam Mephit CR1/4

AC 10 | HP 21 | Fly 30

	STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
sc md sv	5 −3 −3	11 +0 +0	10 +0 +0	11 +0 +0	10 +0 +0	12 +1 +1

Claws +2 · Breath R6 Dex DC 10 (1d8 fire) · Death Burst 5 ft

Atlantean (Sahuagin) CR1

AC 12 | HP 22 | Swim 40

	STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
sc md sv	14 +2 +2	12 +1 +1	12 +1 +1	10 +0 +0	11 +0 +0	9 −1 −1

Blood Frenzy · Bite + Spear +4 · Cap ×4 figures

Brine-Touched (Kuo-toa) CR1

AC 13 | HP 27

	STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
sc md sv	13 +1 +1	10 +0 +0	12 +1 +1	11 +0 +0	10 +0 +0	8 −1 −1

Spear +3 · Net · Slime Slap Con DC 11

Triton Wave-Caller CR4

Recruitable · Mini: Triton caster

AC 14 | HP 65 · Spell DC 13

	STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
sc md sv	12 +1 +1	14 +2 +2	14 +2 +2	12 +1 +1	15 +2 +2	16 +3 +3

Fog / Gust / Tidal Wave 1/day · Trident +4 · Lightning Lure

Triton Guard CR1

AC 13 | HP 27

	STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
sc md sv	14 +2 +2	12 +1 +1	13 +1 +1	11 +0 +0	13 +1 +1	12 +1 +1

Spear +4 · Conch Net DC 12 · Optional Enc. 3 allies (≤2)

Keto-Spawn CR8 BOSS

Deep-sea angler/shark hybrid

AC 16 | HP 136 | Swim 50

	STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
sc md sv	20 +5 +5	12 +1 +1	17 +3 +3	4 −3 −3	12 +1 +1	6 −2 −2

+9 Bite (grapple DC 15) + 2 claws · Swallow R6 · LA Thrash Dex DC 15

The Atlantean Toll

Major Beats

Creature / Enemy List

Difficulty Scaling

Creature / Enemy List

DM Tips

Encounter 1 — Steam on the Water

Encounter 2 — False Kings of the Wave

Encounter 3 — Keto-Spawn at the Ram (Boss)

DM Callouts

Extra Encounter Detail (from session guide)

Quick combat reference

Additional DM notes

Pacing helpers

STAT BLOCKS

Steam Mephit CR1/4

Atlantean (Sahuagin) CR1

Brine-Touched (Kuo-toa) CR1

Triton Wave-Caller CR4

Triton Guard CR1

Keto-Spawn CR8 BOSS

KEY ITEM / NPC

Bronze Tithe-Token

Clerk of the Blue Tithe

Ship Reminder