Stymphalian Storm
For 6 level 8 PCs, 3 to 3.5 hours, 3 encounters. Enc. 3 is Hard.
Style: Heroic lake-clearing hunt with noisy tools, risky improvisation, and a final airborne brawl.
Win: The flock breaks, the lake reopens, and the last bronze feathers are claimed before they seed a wider plague.
Lose: The birds scatter into farms and roads; the lake survives, but every nearby roof and field becomes a target.
Maguffin: Thunder-Net of Stymphalos · Ally: Itys of the Whistling Reeds · QG: Alkippe Reed-Warden
"Three thunderstones, two weighted nets, and a bad sketch of a reed island marked 'queen nest?'"
Major Beats
- A bronze feather punches through a shield like a thrown spear.
- Villagers argue for fire while children hide under reed mats.
- Thunder answers at exactly the wrong moment.
- The matriarch's shadow turns the whole lake black.
Difficulty
| Tier | Adjust |
|---|
| As Written ★ | 6 PCs · APL 8 |
| Library Standard | 6 PCs · APL 8 — Identical to As Written — this guide’s baseline is already 6 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. |
Alkippe Reed-Warden hooks the party. Maguffin Thunder-Net of Stymphalos pays off in the finale against Storm Matriarch . Recruit Itys of the Whistling Reeds along the way.
Creature / Enemy List
| Creature | Counts / Notes |
|---|
| Bronze-Beaked Stymphalian | med · hard · CR 3 · Fast skirmisher |
| Razor-Feather Flock | med · hard · CR 5 · Area denial swarm |
| Nest Sentinel of Ares | med · hard · CR 6 · Armored bruiser |
| Storm Matriarch | med · hard · CR 9 · Boss, aerial controller |
| Itys of the Whistling Reeds | 1 · 1 · Recruit Enc. Enc. 1 or Enc. 2 |
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.
Ally snapshot
Itys of the Whistling Reeds
- RECRUITMENT (Enc. Enc. 1 or Enc. 2). Save his skiff, forgive his theft of bronze bait, or let him lead the reed-maze route.
- Aid. Acts on party initiative when recruited; prefers nonlethal when asked.
Encounter 1 — Reeds Under Siege
Evacuate fishers, learn why the flock returned, and choose bait, thunder, or stealth for the hunt.
- Run a 4-success DC 15 group challenge using Nature, Survival, Athletics, Persuasion, or Animal Handling.
- Every failure costs a skiff, a cache of nets, or 10 HP split among exposed villagers.
- Finding the stolen Ares-bronze grants advantage on one Enc. 2 lure or bait check.
- Recruit Itys by saving his skiff or accepting his reed-maze shortcut despite Alkippe's anger.
- Tip: Medium Humanoid, Neutral · Recruitable Ally · Local net-runner and bird-call mimic
- Tip: RECRUITMENT (Enc. Enc. 1 or Enc. 2). Save his skiff, forgive his theft of bronze bait, or let him lead the reed-maze route.
- Tip: Aid. Acts on party initiative when recruited; prefers nonlethal when asked.
Encounter 2 — Thunder, Nets, and Bad Ideas
Cross the lake under aerial harassment while setting a storm lure before the flock can scatter.
- Need 5 successes before 3 failures at DC 16 to herd the flock toward the rookery.
- Good bad ideas count: drums, reflected sunlight, tied shields, spell thunder, or fake carrion.
- On a failure, a Razor-Feather Flock attacks for 2 rounds or destroys one prepared lure.
- Spending the Thunder-Net here prevents the easiest Enc. 3 payoff but removes one enemy from the finale.
- Tip: Medium Humanoid, Neutral · Recruitable Ally · Local net-runner and bird-call mimic
- Tip: RECRUITMENT (Enc. Enc. 1 or Enc. 2). Save his skiff, forgive his theft of bronze bait, or let him lead the reed-maze route.
- Tip: Aid. Acts on party initiative when recruited; prefers nonlethal when asked.
Encounter 3 — The Bronze Rookery
At initiative 20, wind shifts: DC 15 Strength or Dexterity save or slide 10 feet toward water or spikes. · Fight across a rocking nest-island as the matriarch calls lightning and tries to launch the rookery skyward.
- At initiative 20, wind shifts: DC 15 Strength or Dexterity save or slide 10 feet toward water or spikes.
- Egg mounds are hazards; destroying them ends adds but worsens Alkippe's settlement politics.
- Maguffin payoff: anchor the Thunder-Net during thunder to ground the boss for 2 rounds.
- If the boss falls below 35 HP, a successful DC 16 Intimidation or Animal Handling check can break the flock without slaughter.
DM Callouts
- Medium Humanoid, Neutral · Recruitable Ally · Local net-runner and bird-call mimic
- RECRUITMENT (Enc. Enc. 1 or Enc. 2). Save his skiff, forgive his theft of bronze bait, or let him lead the reed-maze route.
- Aid. Acts on party initiative when recruited; prefers nonlethal when asked.
- Medium Humanoid, Neutral · Recruitable Ally · Local net-runner and bird-call mimic
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
- Itys of the Whistling Reeds — AC 15 | HP 58 | Speed 30 ft. · Medium Humanoid, Neutral · Recruitable Ally · Local net-runn
- Bronze-Beaked Stymphalian — AC 15 | HP 45 | Speed 30 ft. · Medium Creature · CR 3 · Fast skirmisher
- Razor-Feather Flock — AC 14 | HP 92 | Speed 30 ft. · Medium Creature · CR 5 · Area denial swarm
- Nest Sentinel of Ares — AC 17 | HP 110 | Speed 30 ft. · Medium Creature · CR 6 · Armored bruiser
- Storm Matriarch — AC 18 | HP 168 | Speed 40 ft. · Large Creature · CR 9 · Boss, aerial controller · Boss
Additional DM notes
- Motivation.** Reopen the lake before hunger and panic make the townsfolk burn the marsh.
- Secret.** Her brother looted Ares-bronze from the shore and drew the flock back with it.
- Hard rule.** She will not allow the party to poison the lake or torch nesting reeds with families hiding nearby.
- Appearance:** A tarred hemp net threaded with blue wire and small bronze bells.
- Handout.** "Throw only when the sky answers. Pull only if you like keeping both arms."
- Enc. 1–2.** Can capture a scout bird, block a dangerous dive lane, or grant advantage on one flock-control check.
- Enc. 3.** If spread across the nest spire during thunder, grounds the boss for 2 rounds and strips its reaction.
- 12 (+1)**STR**14 (+2)**DEX**12 (+1)**CON**12 (+1)**INT**14 (+2)**WIS**16 (+3)**CHA
- Role:** Local net-runner and bird-call mimic
- RECRUITMENT (Enc. Enc. 1 or Enc. 2).** Save his skiff, forgive his theft of bronze bait, or let him lead the reed-maze route.
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.
NPC / ALLY
Alkippe Reed-Warden
- Reopen the lake before hunger and panic make the townsfolk burn the marsh.
- She will not allow the party to poison the lake or torch nesting reeds with families hiding nearby.
Itys of the Whistling Reeds
- Recruit Enc. Enc. 1 or Enc. 2: Save his skiff, forgive his theft of bronze bait, or let him lead the reed-maze route.
- AC 15 · HP 58 · Reed spear +6 to hit, 7 piercing; once per fight, mimic call imposes disadvantage on one bird dive.
Remember
- The flock breaks, the lake reopens, and the last bronze feathers are claimed before they seed a wider plague.
Enable Background graphics when printing.