Apples of the West
A sunset orchard heist at the edge of Oceanus.
📜 Session Summary
| Style Mythic island heist for 6 level-8 PCs, paced for 3 to 3.5 hours with stealth-first solutions. |
| Win Condition Escape the western orchard with three apples while Ladon remains asleep, bound, or misdirected. |
| Loss Condition Ladon fully wakes, the island folds into sunset, and the crew flees with a curse or no apples. |
| Players 6 × Level 10 · 3–3.5 hrs · 3 encounters |
| Key Ally Aegle, Doubting Hesperid (recruit Enc. 1) · Maguffin: Sunset Shears |
Description
Mnestra of Misthaven hooks the party. Maguffin Sunset Shears pays off in the finale against Ladon, Hundred-Eyed Dragon. Recruit Aegle, Doubting Hesperid along the way.
Steal three golden apples from the Hesperides without waking Ladon for good.
Major Beats
- Mnestra names the three fruits and the taboo against killing the guardian.
- The island watches the party's shadows before it watches their bodies.
- Aegle reveals one sister wants the theft blamed on her.
- The final choice is speed, mercy, or bargaining under Ladon's waking eyes.
Creature / Enemy List
| Creature | Easy | Med | Hard | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Branchbound Watcher | — | med | hard | CR 3 · Patrol brute |
| Jealous Thorn-Nymph | — | med | hard | CR 4 · Social hazard and skirmisher |
| Dream-Moth Swarm | — | med | hard | CR 5 · Sleep alarm |
| Ladon, Hundred-Eyed Dragon | — | med | hard | CR 10 · Boss guardian |
| Aegle, Doubting Hesperid | — | 1 | 1 | Recruit Enc. 1 |
Encounter 1 — The Orchard That Notices
Overview
Land under a copper sunset and cross talking terraces before the island decides the crew are thieves.
🗺 Terrain
Stepped beach, mirror pools, cypress ladders, and three ward-lantern paths into the orchard.
Mechanics
- Run 6 successes before 3 failures using Stealth, Nature, Perception, Deception, or Performance DC 15.
- A failure wakes a Branchbound Watcher; two failures light a ward-lantern visible in Encounter 3.
- The Sunset Shears can quietly trim a ward-vine for one automatic success.
- Recruit Aegle by proving the tracks were planted or by swearing the three-apple limit.
Creature Cards
Mnestra of Misthaven
Human oracle-smuggler, quest giver
Motivation. She needs the apples to ransom sailors trapped in a winter that will not end.
Secret. Her map was bought from a Hesperid who wants one sister discredited, not harmed.
Hard rule. She forbids killing Ladon; a dead guardian calls Hera's whole gaze westward.
Sunset Shears
Wondrous item, orchard key
Appearance: Tiny bronze pruning shears warm as late afternoon.
Handout. "Cut the stem, not the fruit; cut the shadow, not the throat."
Enc. 1–2. Advantage on one Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) or Wisdom (Perception) check involving orchard wards.
Enc. 3. Cut one dream-vine on Ladon; it loses a legendary reaction and cannot awaken fully for 1 round.
Aegle, Doubting Hesperid
Medium Humanoid, Neutral · Recruitable Ally · Inside guide and alarm-saboteur
AC 15 | HP 66 | Speed 30 ft.
Role: Inside guide and alarm-saboteur
RECRUITMENT (Enc. 1). Expose the false serpent tracks without blaming her, or promise to take only three named apples.
Aid. Acts on party initiative when recruited; prefers nonlethal when asked.
Strike. Star-thorn bow +7 to hit, 9 piercing plus 7 radiant; can also dim one ward-lantern.
Branchbound Watcher
Medium Creature · CR 3 · Patrol brute
AC 16 | HP 76 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. Stops pursuit if shown a properly cut golden leaf.
Attack. Root lash +6 to hit, 13 bludgeoning and target is grappled.
Encounter 2 — Sisters at the Golden Bough
Overview
Negotiate, distract, or duel the Hesperides' court while the named apples ripen one at a time.
🗺 Terrain
Circular bough-platform over black water, harp dais, thorn hedges, and hanging mirrors.
Mechanics
- Social route: 4 successes before 2 failures at DC 16 earns ten quiet minutes at the bough.
- Combat route uses Thorn-Nymphs and Dream-Moths; each thunder spell or fire burst adds 1 wake token.
- Aegle can erase one wake token if a PC spends an action protecting her from accusation.
- Each apple takes an action and DC 15 Sleight of Hand, or automatic success with the shears.
Creature Cards
Aegle, Doubting Hesperid
Medium Humanoid, Neutral · Recruitable Ally · Inside guide and alarm-saboteur
AC 15 | HP 66 | Speed 30 ft.
Role: Inside guide and alarm-saboteur
RECRUITMENT (Enc. 1). Expose the false serpent tracks without blaming her, or promise to take only three named apples.
Aid. Acts on party initiative when recruited; prefers nonlethal when asked.
Strike. Star-thorn bow +7 to hit, 9 piercing plus 7 radiant; can also dim one ward-lantern.
Jealous Thorn-Nymph
Medium Creature · CR 4 · Social hazard and skirmisher
AC 15 | HP 88 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. Can be bargained past with praise, secrets, or a stolen mirror.
Attack. Thorn kiss DC 15 Con, 18 poison and poisoned until next turn.
Dream-Moth Swarm
Medium Creature · CR 5 · Sleep alarm
AC 14 | HP 95 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. Fire drives it off but risks waking Ladon.
Attack. Dust cloud DC 15 Wis, 21 psychic and slowed by drowsiness.
Sunset Shears
Wondrous item, orchard key
Appearance: Tiny bronze pruning shears warm as late afternoon.
Handout. "Cut the stem, not the fruit; cut the shadow, not the throat."
Enc. 1–2. Advantage on one Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) or Wisdom (Perception) check involving orchard wards.
Enc. 3. Cut one dream-vine on Ladon; it loses a legendary reaction and cannot awaken fully for 1 round.
Encounter 3 — Ladon Opens One Hundred Eyes
Overview
The dragon stirs as the crew races from the bough to the surf with golden fruit burning in hand.
🗺 Terrain
Falling apple bough, spiral root bridge, sleeping coils, and a moonlit surf exit 120 feet away.
Mechanics
- At initiative 20, add a wake token; at 4 tokens Ladon acts at full strength.
- The Sunset Shears cut a dream-vine, removing 2 wake tokens or preventing a breath weapon once.
- Win by escaping with all three apples, binding Ladon for 3 rounds, or trading one apple for safe passage.
- If reduced below half HP, Ladon roars; every PC must save DC 16 Wis or drop an apple or treasured item.
Creature Cards
Ladon, Hundred-Eyed Dragon
Large Creature · CR 10 · Boss guardian · Boss
AC 18 | HP 205 | Speed 40 ft.
Role: Boss guardian
Note. Preferred victory is sleep, bind, distract, or escape before full awakening.
Hard encounter focus. Win condition may be steal, escape, disable, or drive-off — not always kill.
Multiattack / Assault. Bite +9 to hit, 19 piercing plus 10 poison; many eyes punish noisy movement.
Advance (1). Move up to half Speed.
Strike (1). One attack from Assault.
Sunset Shears
Wondrous item, orchard key
Appearance: Tiny bronze pruning shears warm as late afternoon.
Handout. "Cut the stem, not the fruit; cut the shadow, not the throat."
Enc. 1–2. Advantage on one Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) or Wisdom (Perception) check involving orchard wards.
Enc. 3. Cut one dream-vine on Ladon; it loses a legendary reaction and cannot awaken fully for 1 round.
Aegle, Doubting Hesperid
Medium Humanoid, Neutral · Recruitable Ally · Inside guide and alarm-saboteur
AC 15 | HP 66 | Speed 30 ft.
Role: Inside guide and alarm-saboteur
RECRUITMENT (Enc. 1). Expose the false serpent tracks without blaming her, or promise to take only three named apples.
Aid. Acts on party initiative when recruited; prefers nonlethal when asked.
Strike. Star-thorn bow +7 to hit, 9 piercing plus 7 radiant; can also dim one ward-lantern.
Dream-Moth Swarm
Medium Creature · CR 5 · Sleep alarm
AC 14 | HP 95 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. Fire drives it off but risks waking Ladon.
Attack. Dust cloud DC 15 Wis, 21 psychic and slowed by drowsiness.
⚖️ Difficulty Scaling
As Written ★ — 6 Players, Average Level 10
- Baseline for this guide. Numbers, DCs, and win tracks assume six PCs at average level 10.
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.
Easier
- APL 8–9: use the Library Standard (6×L8) box, then shave one more minion wave.
Harder
- APL 11–12: boss HP +20%; +1 legendary; Favor/track +1 to win.
📋 Appendix — Cards
Mnestra of Misthaven
Human oracle-smuggler, quest giver
Motivation. She needs the apples to ransom sailors trapped in a winter that will not end.
Secret. Her map was bought from a Hesperid who wants one sister discredited, not harmed.
Hard rule. She forbids killing Ladon; a dead guardian calls Hera's whole gaze westward.
Sunset Shears
Wondrous item, orchard key
Appearance: Tiny bronze pruning shears warm as late afternoon.
Handout. "Cut the stem, not the fruit; cut the shadow, not the throat."
Enc. 1–2. Advantage on one Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) or Wisdom (Perception) check involving orchard wards.
Enc. 3. Cut one dream-vine on Ladon; it loses a legendary reaction and cannot awaken fully for 1 round.
Aegle, Doubting Hesperid
Medium Humanoid, Neutral · Recruitable Ally · Inside guide and alarm-saboteur
AC 15 | HP 66 | Speed 30 ft.
Role: Inside guide and alarm-saboteur
RECRUITMENT (Enc. 1). Expose the false serpent tracks without blaming her, or promise to take only three named apples.
Aid. Acts on party initiative when recruited; prefers nonlethal when asked.
Strike. Star-thorn bow +7 to hit, 9 piercing plus 7 radiant; can also dim one ward-lantern.
Branchbound Watcher
Medium Creature · CR 3 · Patrol brute
AC 16 | HP 76 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. Stops pursuit if shown a properly cut golden leaf.
Attack. Root lash +6 to hit, 13 bludgeoning and target is grappled.
Jealous Thorn-Nymph
Medium Creature · CR 4 · Social hazard and skirmisher
AC 15 | HP 88 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. Can be bargained past with praise, secrets, or a stolen mirror.
Attack. Thorn kiss DC 15 Con, 18 poison and poisoned until next turn.
Dream-Moth Swarm
Medium Creature · CR 5 · Sleep alarm
AC 14 | HP 95 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. Fire drives it off but risks waking Ladon.
Attack. Dust cloud DC 15 Wis, 21 psychic and slowed by drowsiness.
Ladon, Hundred-Eyed Dragon
Large Creature · CR 10 · Boss guardian · Boss
AC 18 | HP 205 | Speed 40 ft.
Role: Boss guardian
Note. Preferred victory is sleep, bind, distract, or escape before full awakening.
Hard encounter focus. Win condition may be steal, escape, disable, or drive-off — not always kill.
Multiattack / Assault. Bite +9 to hit, 19 piercing plus 10 poison; many eyes punish noisy movement.
Advance (1). Move up to half Speed.
Strike (1). One attack from Assault.