The Pomegranate Dead

One-Shot · 6 PCs · Lvl 10 · Underworld Mystery · ~3–3.5 hrs · + Optional Cerberus

Style: Ferry → Audience with Hades → Investigation → Stall Boss → Saving face | Win: Persephone leaves initiative (unkillable) | Best: not a word — both gods save face, both owe a favor, party keeps the Obol.

Hermes fetches the party · Hades briefs them, lends the Obol, names Asclepius and Orpheus (recruit one) · the rising dead are the Queen's experiment · Hades arrives late and loud.

"When the queen's garden sings with stolen breath, press this eye to the ferry-bell — the husband hears iron before lies." — Obol (22 words).

Major Beats

Misthaven — Hermes: "The King would like a word." Mist takes the harbor.
Enc. 1 — Teeth on the Styx: 30×10 ferry, 4 rounds · 8 skeletons + 2 Spartoi try to drag the party into the Styx.
The King's Audience: Hades' briefing, the Obol, two names, the pride-of-gods speech, the rule of his house.
Enc. 2 — Healer & Singer: dogs + bone centaurs + zombies hunt Asclepius and Orpheus; 3 of 4 clues; choose one ally.
Enc. 3 — Queen's Garden: Persephone stall; fight to the bell past 2 Spartoi; Arrival clock.
Optional: Cerberus at the Triple Gate — alternate Hades call (easy with Orpheus).
Not a word: Hades congratulates loudly · both gods owe a favor · Persephone gifts the Obol.

Creature List

Creature	E	M	H	Notes
Hydra-Tooth Skeleton	6	8	9	Enc. 1, 3 · reassemble
Spartoi Captain	1	2	2	Enc. 1, 3 · drill captain · bell guard
Skeletal Death Dog	3	4	4	Enc. 2 · Reap & Sow
Bone Centaur	1	2	2	Enc. 2 · Chiron's kin
Breath-Thief Zombie	1	2	2	Enc. 2 (round 3) · Enc. 3 half threshold
Persephone	1	1	1	Unkillable · Threshold 180
Cerberus	—	opt	opt	Optional alternate resolution

On the Table

Enc. 1: 8 skeletons · 2 skeleton captains (Spartoi). Enc. 2: 4 death dogs · 2 centaur skeletons · 2 Cyclopean figures (zombies) · humanoids for Asclepius and Orpheus. Enc. 3: a humanoid (Persephone) · 4 skeletons (up to 9 with summons; extras off-board) · the 2 skeleton captains at the bell. Optional: a Chimera as Cerberus.

Trackers

Clues (need 3) wounds witness tracks seal Ally Asclepius Orpheus Centaurs laid down
Pressure Threshold 180 Pomegranate
Arrival Clock Obol struck Spartoi at the bell
Hades interrupted Said aloud → Hostile Favors Persephone Hades Obol kept

Difficulty

Tier	Adjust
Easier	Library Standard + clock starts at 3; no half-threshold zombie; both allies may come
Library Std (6 PCs, L8)	6 skel + 1 Spartoi · 3 dogs, 1 centaur, 1 zombie · Threshold 140 · clock 4 · DCs 16 · LR 2/day · no circle of death
APL 10 ★	As written: Enc. 1–2 Hard · Enc. 3 Deadly · Threshold 180 · clock 5 · one ally
Harder	Threshold 220 · clock 6 · 9 skel in Enc. 1 · zombies round 2 · circle of death ×2

Persistence: Persephone, Hades, Cerberus and Charon do not die. Never narrate her death; the win is her leaving initiative. No ally recruited → start the Arrival Clock at 4.

ENC 1 — Teeth on the Styx

Hard · 3–4 rounds | ferry 30×10 (6×2) · every square is a rail square · Charon at the stern · ends when the ferry grounds (end of rd 4)

Rd 1: 4 skeletons grab from the water · Rd 2: they climb aboard (15 ft), 4 more rise, 2 Spartoi climb over the bow · Rd 3: bash & drag · Rd 4: ferry grounds, the dead let go. Second pole: Athletics DC 15 ×2 → grounds end of rd 3.
Dead: Grasping Hands STR/DEX DC 12 (escape 12) · Many Hands +2 per extra skeleton grappling · Drag Under STR DC 12 (disadv. prone) → overboard · captains' Shield Bash STR DC 15, 10 ft = overboard. Heeling: 3+ more on one side → that side DEX DC 12 or prone.
Turnabout: shoved skeleton spends its next turn climbing back · shoved Spartoi sinks for good. Haul an ally out: action, Athletics DC 13 (pole/rope = no contact). Charon's pole (1/rd): DEX DC 12 → hanging on the gunwale instead.
Styx: touching = 2d6 necrotic/turn, no healing · falling in = CON DC 15, 4d6 necrotic (half) + lose a memory + 1 Exhaustion (first time) · swim: action, Athletics DC 15, 15 ft; else drift 10 ft · climb aboard Athletics DC 12 · >30 ft behind = out; Charon fishes them out at the bank (+1 more Exhaustion). Hades returns it all if asked courteously.
Clues: pomegranate-stained teeth (Investigation DC 12); Theban mark on Spartoi bronze (History DC 14). Charon: "The singer crossed again."

THE KING'S AUDIENCE (social)

Social · 20–30 min | basalt hall · scribes reading the dead · empty second throne with a half-eaten pomegranate

Hades: proud, harried, loving. Knows it's his wife; won't confront her; won't name her; "too busy" ("…the living have stopped dying!").
Gives: the situation · the Obol (fare home; strike a ferry-bell → he comes, late) · two names: Asclepius, Orpheus — bring one. Asked courteously, returns what the Styx took.
Pride-of-gods speech (Athena / Ares). Insight DC 15: he's lying · DC 20: protecting someone he loves (glances at the empty throne).
Rule: interrupt every accusation of the Queen. Said aloud anyway → Hostile: Rebuke (CON DC 18, 6d8 necrotic + Frightened 1 hr), no names, no favor, Obol taken back at the end. Applies whenever he's present or the clock runs.
Talking around it ("a royal hand", "the gardener") → he relaxes: advantage on the next CHA check with him.

ENC 2 — The Healer and the Singer

Hard · 50–60 min | meadow 110×70 · mist · tent W (¾ cover) · Orpheus on a cairn E

4 dogs (2 per NPC) · 2 bone centaurs shoot from the mist, then charge · 2 zombies round 3. Orpheus drops if not reached by round 2.
Clues (need 3): Medicine DC 14 healing inverted · Lydia Persuasion/Religion DC 13 (sowers, bone riders, Eurydice) · Survival DC 14 tracks · Arcana DC 15 Queen's seal on a collar/bridle.
Chiron's Kin: Asclepius names a centaur — WIS DC 14 or it stands down 1 min; fail twice = laid down.
Recruit one: Asclepius (≥2 floral/royal clues, Persuasion DC 13) or Orpheus (protect him + tell him about Eurydice, Persuasion DC 14, adv if no shade drained). The other stays to hold Asphodel.

ENC 3 — The Queen's Garden (Boss)

Deadly · 60–75 min | court 100×80 · trees ½ cover (fruit lure WIS DC 15) · furrows difficult · bell on a plinth

Persephone + 4 skeletons + 2 Spartoi at the bell. Sow the Teeth 1d4+1 (max 9 on the map); Reap & Sow → dog; 1 zombie at half threshold.
Her pitch: bored, curious, ambitious — "a quarter of forever is still forever"; "Goddess of the Undead? Who knows." Loves him; won't have him say he knows.
A — Arrival Clock: Obol on the bell past Hold the Line → 5 rounds (4 with Asclepius), ticking at the end of Persephone's turn.
B — Threshold 180 → 0, then Persuasion/Intimidation DC 18 (DC 15 with Orpheus): "Ring the bell. Say nothing."
C — Flee to the kennels → Cerberus. · Pomegranate AC 20 / HP 40: −30 threshold, no summons 2 rds.
Asclepius: clock −1, heals, breaks the pomegranate, turns the raised dead, returns one fallen PC. Orpheus: bargain DC 15, silences her legendary actions once, lulls summons; optional Eurydice temptation (Persuasion DC 15 to keep him).

NOT A WORD (ending)

Hades arrives late, loud: "…whatever upstart lich… or did my dog eat him? Splendid!" Persephone: "Such a relief." Both look at the party: not a word.
Silence → Persephone asks him to let them keep the Obol, retires; owes a favor. Hades, aside: "I saw all of it… I owe you one" — favor (Cerberus vs Typhon in Victory Unchained).
Said aloud → Hades Hostile: Rebuke, Obol taken back, no favors; Persephone's favor becomes a grudge.

OPTIONAL — The Triple Gate (Cerberus)

Calm: Animal Handling or Performance DC 16 (adv with Obol or Orpheus; Orpheus = 1 success), 3 before 3. Distract: Deception DC 14 → 2 rounds to Dash.
Calmed + Obol → husband-howl: clock starts at 3. At 0 HP he flees; clock at 3; Hades displeased.

CREATURE STAT BLOCKS

Hydra-Tooth Skeleton (Harryhausen) — Enc. 1, 3

Medium Undead, Lawful Evil · CR 2 (450 XP)

AC 14 (armor scraps) | HP 26 (4d8+8) | Speed 30 ft.

	STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
sc md sv	14 +2 +2	14 +2 +2	15 +2 +2	6 −2 −2	8 −1 −1	5 −3 −3

Vulnerabilities: bludgeoning · Immunities: poison; exhaustion, poisoned · Senses: darkvision 60 ft.

Sown from Teeth. When reduced to 0 HP, roll a d6: on a 6 (5–6 while a Spartoi Captain stands within 60 ft.), the bones reassemble at 1 HP at the start of its next turn unless shattered (bludgeoning), burned (fire) or seared by the Obol (radiant).

Pack Drill. Advantage on attack rolls if another Hydra-Tooth Skeleton is within 5 ft. of the target.

River-Risen. Sown in the bed of the Styx; the river does not harm it. From the water it can use Grasping Hands and Drag Under against a creature in a square beside the hull. Knocked overboard, it spends its next turn climbing back aboard (Enc. 1).

Many Hands. Each other Hydra-Tooth Skeleton grappling the same creature adds 2 to the DC to escape the grapple and to the save against Drag Under.

Actions

Multiattack. Two shortsword attacks, or one shortsword and one shield bash. It can replace any of them with Grasping Hands.

Shortsword. +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. Hit: 5 (1d6+2) piercing.

Shield Bash. +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. Hit: 4 (1d4+2) bludgeoning; DC 12 Strength save or prone.

Grasping Hands. One creature within 5 ft. makes a DC 12 Strength or Dexterity save (its choice) or is grappled (escape DC 12).

Drag Under. One creature the skeleton is grappling makes a DC 12 Strength save, with disadvantage if prone. On a failure it goes overboard into the Styx, and a skeleton that was aboard goes with it, still holding on.

Spartoi Captain (Sown Man) — Enc. 1, 3

Medium Undead, Lawful Evil · CR 5 (1,800 XP)

AC 17 (bronze scraps, shield) | HP 97 (13d8+39) | Speed 30 ft.

	STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
sc md sv	18 +4 +7	14 +2 +2	16 +3 +6	10 +0 +0	12 +1 +1	10 +0 +0

Vulnerabilities: bludgeoning

Immunities: poison; exhaustion, frightened, poisoned · Senses: darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11 · Languages: understands Ancient Greek; barks drill-calls

Sown from the Dragon's Teeth. The first Spartoi sprang from the teeth Cadmus sowed at Thebes; these were sown in the Queen's garden and wear the bronze of the men they replaced. At 0 HP it collapses into a heap of teeth; on a 5–6 at the start of its next turn it rises with 15 HP, unless the killing blow was bludgeoning, fire or radiant.

Drill Captain. While it stands, Hydra-Tooth Skeletons within 60 ft. that can hear it reassemble on a 5–6 instead of a 6. Kill the captains first.

Bronze Sinks. If it goes into the Styx it sinks in its bronze and is out of the fight; the river keeps it. On the ferry it uses Shield Bash, not its spear: it wants you in the water.

Actions

Multiattack. Three Dory attacks, or two Dory attacks and one Shield Bash.

Dory. +7 to hit, reach 10 ft. Hit: 9 (1d10+4) piercing.

Shield Bash. +7 to hit, reach 5 ft. Hit: 7 (1d6+4) bludgeoning, and the target makes a DC 15 Strength save or is pushed 10 ft. and knocked prone.

Reactions

Hold the Line. When a creature it can see moves within 5 ft. of the ferry-bell (or of another post it guards), it makes one Dory attack against that creature. On a hit the target's speed becomes 0 until the end of the turn.

Skeletal Death Dog — Enc. 2

Medium Undead, Neutral Evil · CR 1 (200 XP)

AC 13 (bone plates) | HP 39 (6d8+12) | Speed 40 ft.

	STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
sc md sv	15 +2 +2	14 +2 +2	14 +2 +2	3 −4 −4	13 +1 +1	6 −2 −2

Skills: Perception +5, Stealth +4 · Vulnerabilities: bludgeoning

Immunities: poison; exhaustion, poisoned · Senses: darkvision 120 ft.

Two-Headed. Advantage on Wis (Perception) and on saves vs. blinded, charmed, deafened, frightened, stunned, or knocked unconscious.

Grave-Hound. A two-headed hound picked clean to the bone and strung back together with pomegranate vine; its ribs rattle when it runs and it still wears the Queen's collar. When reduced to 0 HP by anything but bludgeoning or radiant damage, it collapses into a heap of bones that twitch for a round.

Actions

Multiattack. Two bite attacks.

Bite. +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. Hit: 5 (1d6+2) piercing. If both bites hit the same target on a turn, the target makes a DC 12 Constitution save or is poisoned and diseased (grave-rot: HP max reduced by 5 per failed daily save until cured — Asclepius can cure with Healing Touch).

Bone Centaur of Chiron's Line — Enc. 2

Large Undead, Neutral · CR 5 (1,800 XP)

AC 15 (bone barding) | HP 110 (13d10+39) | Speed 50 ft.

	STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
sc md sv	18 +4 +4	16 +3 +3	16 +3 +3	9 −1 −1	13 +1 +1	8 −1 −1

Skills: Athletics +7, Perception +4, Survival +4 · Vulnerabilities: bludgeoning

Immunities: poison; exhaustion, poisoned · Senses: darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14 · Languages: understands Ancient Greek

Chiron's Kin. Raised from the bones of the centaurs of Chiron's line — the teacher who taught Asclepius medicine. Asclepius knows them on sight. He (or a PC he is coaching, with a DC 15 Medicine check) can use an action to call one by its old name: it makes a DC 14 Wisdom save. On a failure it lowers its bow and takes no actions for 1 minute unless attacked; a second failure lays it down for good.

Hunting Charge. If it moves at least 30 ft. straight toward a target and then hits it with a Pike attack on the same turn, the target takes an extra 9 (2d8) piercing damage and makes a DC 15 Strength save or is knocked prone.

The Queen's Bridle. Its skull is bridled in black leather stamped with the Queen's seal — a clue (see Enc. 2).

Actions

Multiattack. Two Pike attacks, one Pike and one Hooves attack, or two Longbow attacks.

Pike. +7 to hit, reach 10 ft. Hit: 9 (1d10+4) piercing.

Hooves. +7 to hit, reach 5 ft. Hit: 11 (2d6+4) bludgeoning.

Longbow. +6 to hit, range 150/600 ft. Hit: 7 (1d8+3) piercing plus 7 (2d6) necrotic.

Breath-Thief Zombie — Enc. 2–3

Large Undead, Neutral Evil · CR 5 (1,800 XP)

AC 11 | HP 115 (11d10+55) | Speed 25 ft.

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

Resistances: necrotic · Immunities: poison; exhaustion, poisoned

Senses: darkvision 60 ft.

Stolen Breath. A bloated corpse from the Asphodel fields, swollen with breath the Queen stole from the living. Its chest heaves; every exhale smells of pomegranate and grave-soil.

Undead Fortitude. If damage reduces it to 0 HP, it makes a Constitution save (DC 5 + the damage taken) unless the damage is radiant or from a critical hit. On a success, it drops to 1 HP instead.

Death Sigh. When it dies, it exhales every breath it stole: each creature within 10 ft. makes a DC 14 Constitution save or takes 13 (3d8) necrotic damage and is poisoned until the end of its next turn.

Actions

Multiattack. Two Grave Slam attacks.

Grave Slam. +8 to hit, reach 10 ft. Hit: 14 (2d8+5) bludgeoning plus 7 (2d6) necrotic. The target makes a DC 14 Constitution save or its HP max is reduced by the necrotic damage until it finishes a long rest.

Breath Thief (Recharge 5–6). It presses its mouth to a grappled, prone, or dying creature within 5 ft. and inhales: 21 (6d6) necrotic, DC 15 Constitution save for half, and the zombie regains HP equal to the damage dealt. A shade reduced to 0 HP this way is gone for good.

Charon — Neutral NPC

Medium Undead (Unique), Neutral · Ferryman

AC 16 | HP 110 (13d8+52) | Speed 30 ft., swim 40 ft.

	STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
sc md sv	16 +3 +3	12 +1 +1	18 +4 +4	14 +2 +2	16 +3 +3	11 +0 +0

Skills: Insight +7, Perception +7 · Immunities: necrotic, poison; frightened

The Fare. Hermes has paid the way in. The way home costs the Obol Hades lends the party. Attempting to fight him capsizes the ferry: everyone aboard goes into the Styx (see Enc. 1).

Ferryman. He poles; he does not fight for anyone. The crossing takes 4 rounds whatever happens on deck. When the ferry grounds, he hooks any passenger still in the river out with his pole.

Neutral Witness. Answers one honest question about recent crossings if paid fairly. Will not accuse the Queen by name.

Actions

Ferryman's Pole. +7 to hit, reach 10 ft. Hit: 12 (2d8+3) bludgeoning + 7 (2d6) necrotic.

Styx Lash (Recharge 5–6). 30-ft. line; DC 15 Dexterity. 21 (6d6) necrotic on a failure, half on a success; a failure also reduces speed to 0 until the end of its next turn.

Reactions

Paid Passage (1/Round). When a passenger whose fare is paid goes overboard, he holds out his pole. The passenger makes a DC 12 Dexterity save; on a success it catches the pole and ends hanging on the gunwale instead of in the river. "The fare is paid. Hold on."

Persephone, Queen of the Unquiet — BOSS · cannot be killed

Medium Celestial (Goddess), Neutral (ambitious) · CR 12 threat · UNKILLABLE BOSS

AC 18 | HP — (Threshold 180; see Immortal Court) | Speed 30 ft., fly 30 ft. (hover)

	STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
sc md sv	14 +2 +2	18 +4 +10	18 +4 +4	16 +3 +3	20 +5 +11	20 +5 +11

Skills: Deception +11, Insight +11, Nature +9, Religion +9 · Resistances: necrotic, psychic; BPS from nonmagical

Queen in Her Own Right. Bored, curious and ambitious. Her mother is the Harvest, her husband the Dead; she will not be only "his wife". She is experimenting with what she might be goddess of — the Undead? the Shades? — by raising a private legion. She loves Hades and does not want him prying. Above all she will not have it said aloud, in her own home, that he knows. The reveal is the mystery payoff.

Immortal Court — Cannot Be Killed. She has no true HP. Track a Pressure Threshold of 180. Damage and certain effects reduce the threshold. At 0 she does not die — she becomes Wrathful (see Legendary Actions) but remains unkillable. Win = she leaves initiative (Hades arrives, a bargain, or Cerberus).

Pomegranate Focus. While she holds her pomegranate (object AC 20 / HP 40, immune to psychic), she can summon. Destroying it prevents new summons for 2 rounds and drops the threshold by 30.

Legendary Resistance (3/Day). Turn a failed save into a success.

Actions

Multiattack. Two Necro-Vine attacks and Cast a Spell, or three Necro-Vines.

Necro-Vine. +10 to hit, reach 15 ft. Hit: 14 (2d8+5) piercing + 10 (3d6) necrotic; DC 18 Strength save or restrained (escape DC 18).

Cast a Spell. Spell save DC 18, +10 to hit. At will: chill touch (4d8), command. 3/day each: hold person, blight, spirit guardians (necrotic blossoms). 1/day: circle of death (8d6, 60-ft. radius — only while the pomegranate is intact).

Sow the Teeth (Recharge 5–6). Summons 1d4+1 Hydra-Tooth Skeletons in unoccupied spaces within 30 ft. They act after her.

Legendary Actions

Vine (Cost 1). One Necro-Vine attack.

Whisper (Cost 1). One creature within 60 ft. makes a DC 18 Wisdom save or is frightened until the end of its next turn.

Reap & Sow (Cost 2). One skeleton within 60 ft. explodes (10-ft. radius, DC 15 Dex, 14 (4d6) necrotic) and is replaced by a Skeletal Death Dog.

Wrathful Queen (Cost 3, only at Threshold 0). Sow the Teeth recharges immediately and she casts chill touch on two targets; still cannot be slain.

CREATURE STAT BLOCKS (cont.)

Cerberus — Optional

Huge Monstrosity, Lawful Neutral · CR 10 (5,900 XP) · OPTIONAL / Iconic

AC 16 (natural) | HP 178 (17d12+68) | Speed 50 ft.

	STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
sc md sv	22 +6 +6	12 +1 +1	18 +4 +4	6 −2 −2	14 +2 +2	10 +0 +0

Skills: Perception +10 (adv) · Senses: darkvision 120 ft., smell living breath 300 ft. · Immunities: frightened

Iconic — Prefer Not to Kill. Win by calming, distracting, or slipping past — not by slaying Olympus's hound. If reduced to 0 HP, he flees whimpering (Hades will be displeased).

Three Heads. Advantage on Perception; can make opportunity attacks against three different creatures per round.

Gate Guardian. Blocks the inner road to Hades' private court. Getting past him is an alternate resolution that calls Hades without the garden ferry-bell.

Actions

Multiattack. Three bite attacks (one per head).

Bite. +10 to hit, reach 10 ft. Hit: 17 (2d10+6) piercing. If two or more bites hit the same target in a turn, DC 18 Strength save or grappled and restrained in the jaws (escape DC 18).

Tripartite Roar (Recharge 5–6). 60-ft. cone; DC 16 Wisdom. Fail: frightened for 1 minute (repeat at the end of its turns) and deafened for 1 round.

Legendary Actions

Detect (Cost 1). Wisdom (Perception) check.

Bite (Cost 1). One bite attack.

Drag (Cost 2). Move up to 20 ft. dragging one grappled creature without provoking.

Asclepius — Ally (one of two)

Medium Humanoid (Demigod physician), Neutral Good · Cleric / Necromancer · CR 6 ally

AC 14 | HP 97 (15d8+30) | Speed 30 ft.

	STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
sc md sv	10 +0 +0	14 +2 +2	14 +2 +2	18 +4 +7	18 +4 +7	14 +2 +2

Skills: Medicine +10, Nature +7, Insight +7, Religion +7

Why He Is Here. Following a plague of "false deaths" — corpses walking with stolen breath. He believes someone is siphoning Asclepian healing into necromancy.

Raiser of the Dead. The one mortal-born healer who ever brought the dead back — Zeus struck him down for it at Hades' complaint. He knows exactly how the dead are raised, which is why this frightens him. Hades still keeps complaints about him on file.

Chiron's Pupil. Chiron the centaur taught him medicine. The bone centaurs in Asphodel are Chiron's kin, and he can call them by name (see their card).

One Ally Only. If the party brings him to the garden, Orpheus stays in Asphodel to keep the shades calm. Recruit with ≥2 floral/royal clues (Persuasion DC 13 with the evidence).

Iconic. Do not kill. If reduced to 0 HP, he stabilizes in a sacred sleep (removed from the fight). He will not strike Persephone to kill.

Actions

Serpent Staff. +6 to hit, reach 5 ft. Hit: 7 (1d6+4) bludgeoning + 7 (2d6) poison or radiant (his choice).

Healing Touch (3/Day). A creature he touches regains 18 (4d8) HP and may end one poison or disease.

Turn the Inverted (1/Day). Each undead within 30 ft. that Persephone raised makes a DC 15 Wisdom save or is turned for 1 minute (it flees and takes no actions unless cornered); the effect ends on a creature that takes damage.

Return from the Threshold (1/Day). A creature that died within the last minute returns to life with 1 HP.

Diagnostic Gaze. Insight/Medicine check with advantage to identify how an undead was made (reveals the summoner-signature: floral + grave).

Bonus Actions

Field Surgery (1/Round). One ally within 5 ft. gains 10 temporary HP.

Orpheus — Ally (one of two)

Medium Humanoid (Human, son of Apollo), Neutral Good · Bard · CR 6 ally

AC 14 | HP 82 (15d8+15) | Speed 30 ft.

	STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
sc md sv	10 +0 +0	16 +3 +6	12 +1 +1	13 +1 +1	14 +2 +2	20 +5 +8

Skills: Performance +11, Persuasion +8, Insight +5, History +4

Senses: passive Perception 12 · Languages: Common, Ancient Greek

The Man Who Came Back. The only living man to cross the Styx twice. He walked out of the Underworld once with Eurydice behind him, looked back, and lost her. He has come down again, alone and without leave, because her shade is missing from Asphodel.

The Song She Wept For. Persephone wept once at his song; it was she who let Eurydice go. While he plays within 60 ft. of her, the bargain (Path B) is DC 15 instead of DC 18.

Calms the Hound. Cerberus has heard him before. Checks to calm Cerberus have advantage while he plays, and his playing counts as one success.

One Ally Only. If the party brings him to the garden, Asclepius stays in Asphodel with his patients. Recruit by protecting him and telling him what happened to Eurydice (Persuasion DC 14).

Iconic. Do not kill. At 0 HP he is stable and unconscious, still holding the lyre.

Actions

Lyre-Blade. +6 to hit, reach 5 ft. Hit: 6 (1d6+3) piercing.

Spellcasting (Cha, DC 16, +8 to hit). At will: vicious mockery (3d4), friends. 2/day each: calm emotions, healing word (3d4+5). 1/day: hypnotic pattern.

Lull of the Lyre (Recharge 5–6). Each skeleton, death dog and zombie within 30 ft. that can hear him makes a DC 16 Wisdom save or is incapacitated until the end of its next turn.

The Song She Wept For (1/Encounter). He plays the song from his first descent. Persephone takes no legendary actions until the start of her next turn.

Bonus Actions

Inspiring Refrain (3/Day). One ally within 60 ft. who can hear him gains a d8 Bardic Inspiration die for 10 minutes.

Reactions

Counter-Song. When a creature within 30 ft. makes a save against being charmed or frightened, it has advantage.

KEY ITEM — Obol of True Passage (lent by Hades)

Pays Charon for the whole party on the way home; one spare truth-toll.
Burning eye: the holder's nonmagical weapon and unarmed attacks deal radiant (choice per hit); radiant stops skeleton / Spartoi reassembly.
Strike a ferry-bell (action) → Hades Arrival clock. Once per session. Scent-token: adv on the first check to calm Cerberus.
Kept if both gods save face. Lost? Asclepius's chime (Medicine DC 15) or Orpheus's song (Performance DC 15); clock +1.

NPC QUICK REFERENCE

Hades — Quest Giver

Pride and love. Knows; won't confront her; won't seem controlling; won't let her be embarrassed at home.
Plan: arrive late, congratulate loudly, she overhears. Owes a favor if nobody says it.
Not a combatant. Hostile → Rebuke (see Audience).

Persephone — the Queen

Bored, curious, ambitious; wants an epithet of her own (Undead? Shades?).
Loves Hades; doesn't mind him knowing — minds him saying it.
End: "Not a word" → asks him to gift the Obol, retires; owes a favor.

Hermes & Charon

Hermes: escort; pays the crossing; "Mind your tongue in his house."
Charon: truth-toll (Persuasion DC 14) — "That is from a garden."

Shade Witness (Lydia)

Sowers after midnight; bone riders; a woman with a snakebite (Eurydice).
Comfort her: Persuasion/Religion DC 13 → she guides the party.

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