The Laurels of Olympia
One-Shot · 6 Players · Average Level 10 · Olympia Stadium · ~3–3.5 hrs / 3 Encounters
Style: Contests + Crowd Investigation → Vault → Arena Boss |
Win: Contest standing; expose Sons of Ares fix; stop
Khalkotaurus (0 HP, Olive Token brow ×2, or Olympic torch brands) |
Setting: Misthaven mist → Olympia gates → stadium / stands → understadium vault → closing ceremony.
Diaktoros gives the Olive Token. Damon “the Book” runs a FIFA-scandal gambling mafia (Sons of Ares). Ares does not claim them. Default: 3 PCs compete, 3 work the crowd.
"When bronze claims the sacred sand and the crowd screams for blood, press this olive to the false victor's brow." — Olive Token of Nike (24 words). Payoff = brow-socket on Khalkotaurus (Enc. 3).
Major Beats
- Misthaven invite — Diaktoros + Olive Token; mist → stadium gates.
- Register as Mistwalkers; meet Damon / Sons of Ares + rival teams (red herrings).
- Enc. 1: ~3 compete / ~3 crowd clues; Dex/Con/archery/javelin options; lethal branches.
- Enc. 2: vault + flame; split-party; distraction to search bags; recruit Lea.
- Enc. 3: Khalkotaurus; Olympic torch brand; olive-token brow payoff.
Competing Teams (miniature caps)
| Team | Cap | Notes |
|---|
| Pride of Nemea (Leonins) | ≤6 | Captain Lea — best ally |
| Iron Tusks | ≤3 Bugbear + ≤3 Rhino Minotaur | Foul-prone |
| Wild Chorus (Satyrs) | ≤10 | Recruitable |
| Phalanx of Elis (Hoplites) | ≤10 | Law / break up brawls |
| Single Eyes (Cyclopeans) | as available | Orc-sized intelligent cyclopes |
| Labyrinth Horns (Minotaurs) | ≤8 | Charge threats |
Creature / Enemy List
| Creature | Easy | Med | Hard | Notes |
|---|
| Leonin Athlete | 2 | 3–4 | 5–6 | Enc. 1 rivals |
| Bugbear Bruiser | 1 | 2 | 3 | Iron Tusks / Enc. 2 |
| Rhino Minotaur | 1 | 2 | 3 | Iron Tusks heavy |
| Satyr Reveler | 3 | 5 | 8–10 | Recruit pool |
| Hoplite of Elis | 3 | 5 | 8–10 | Neutrals / allies |
| Cyclopean Contender | 2 | 3 | 4 | Puzzle helpers |
| Minotaur Athlete | 2 | 3 | 4–5 | Enc. 1 combat path |
| Ares Cult Saboteur | 2 | 3 | 4 | Sons of Ares mafia Enc. 1–2 |
| Khalkotaurus (Boss) | 1 adj. | 1 | 1 | HP 120 / 168 / 200 |
Difficulty Scaling
| APL | Enc. 1 | Enc. 2 | Enc. 3 |
|---|
| 4–6 | DC −2; 1 rival | 2 cultists; hint | HP 120; no LA; token ×1 ends |
| 8 ★ | Baseline | Baseline | HP 168; full LA |
| 10 | DC +2; full caps | 4 cultists + bugbear | HP 200; snipers; token ×2 |
Partial party in a contest: 1–2 PCs → 1 rival, DC −2; 3–4 → baseline; spectating PCs Aid (DC 12) once/heat.
Encounter 1 — Opening Contests
Default: 3 PCs compete, 3 crowd-work (Insight/Investigation). Introduce Damon the Book and red-scarf Sons of Ares. Run any two heats. Religion DC 14: Ares does not claim this “cult.”
Contests: A Stadion · B Discus · C Pankration · D Torch Relay (Olympic flame) · E Long Jump (Dex) · F Footwork (Dex) · G Dolichos (Con) · H Oil & Heat (Con) · I Archery · J Javelin · each heat has a Lethal branch
- Clues: Insight Damon 14 · Investigate bags 14 (ledger: Iron Tusks + Phalanx clerk) · Perc west stands 15 (spike case → north) · satyr bribe = red herring · Lea’s tents clean
- Distraction: Performance/Athletics DC 13 scene while ally Stealth/Sleight DC 14 searches satchels
- Lethal branches (per heat): A poison skins · B discus foul · C pankration sword · D torch snuff/fire · E spiked landing · F spiked pit/knife · G laced water · H ignited oil · I archery “accident” · J javelin foul · Contestors finish rounds while others fight
- Combat: 2 saboteurs + 1 bugbear or Iron Tusks budget; Lykos wants nonlethal
Encounter 2 — The Contested Laurel
Vault 80×50. Laurel stolen; Olympic flame gutters. Sons of Ares swap in control spike for Khalkotaurus. May try to snuff the flame.
- Split party: Vault 2–3 → 2 saboteurs, puzzle 2 successes, DC −1. Stadium team finishes heat / may face lethal branch. Abandon heat = forfeit victory, reinforce vault round 2. Full party = baseline 3. Solo investigators get 2 Hoplite escorts (watch Damon’s clerk).
- Distraction upstairs: crowd scene DC 13 → adv on Stealth snatch in vault; fail peels 1 saboteur upstairs
- Puzzle: Race → Discus → Pankration → Flame (or today’s slate). Wrong = Dex 14 / 2d6 poison. Arcana 15: spike + Olympic flame keyed vs idol
- Win: Laurel and/or brow diagram; keep or rekindle flame. Spike escape = bull starts with breath ready
Encounter 3 — Brazen Bull
Damon’s construct (not Ares’s will) tears free. Allies stand with PCs. Win: 0 HP or Olive Token brow ×2 or wear it down with Olympic brands + token.
- Olympic Torch: Action brand Ath DC 14 / melee spell atk — 4d8 radiant+fire (ignores fire resist) + disadv on bull’s attacks until end of its next turn. Thrown 20 ft = damage only. Rekindle at altar: Religion 15 or olive oil + fire if snuffed
- Stampede round 2 (round 1 if flame died mid-ceremony). Water trough Ath 13 suppresses Furnace Heart 1 rd
- Damon optional chase / Hard+ snipers in stands
DM Callouts
- Need 2+ Enc. 1 clues to accuse cleanly before Enc. 3; zero clues still playable but vault is colder.
- Recruit Lea: fair play or show ledger / stop lethal branch on her athletes.
- Olive Token still the mid-combat “press it to the brow” payoff.
KEY ITEMS
Olive Token of Nike
- Handout (24 words): bronze sand / press olive to false victor's brow.
- Enc. 1–2: optional adv on one Contest check/event (invitation recognized).
- Enc. 3: Action adjacent → 40 force + strip LA 1 round; second press (Help/prone) ends animation.
NPC QUICK REFERENCE
Diaktoros — Quest Giver
- Motivation: Keep Games sacred; favor clever victors.
- Secret: Hermes in disguise.
- Roleplay: Winks, never confirms divinity; ushers into mist.
Judge Lykos — Hellanodikai
- Motivation: Fair heats; prevent riot.
- Secret: Suspects bronze-animation magic at vault.
- Stats: AC 12, HP 27; Insight +6; Call Foul (Recharge 5–6).
Captain Lea — Pride of Nemea
- Motivation: Win with honor; protect her six.
- Recruit: Fair Enc. 1 or cult proof Enc. 2 → Enc. 3 ally (+2 Leonins).
- Stats: AC 15, HP 78, CR 4; 3× claw +6 (1d8+4); Victory Roar 10 temp HP.
Damon “the Book” — Fixer
- Human bookmaker; Sons of Ares brand. FIFA-scandal polite.
- Endgame: animate Khalkotaurus if the fix collapses.
- Ares does not recognize him. Quote: “Bet on who already knows the score.”
Team Caps Reminder
- Field only miniatures you own. Shrink heats to match who participates.
- Default 3 compete / 3 crowd. Spectators Aid once/heat (DC 12) or Crowd Cheer Perf/Pers DC 13 → Inspiration or adv on next Contest check (beat by 5+ = whole heat adv; fail by 5+ = boos/disadv).
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