Bellerophon's Bargain
For 6 level 8 PCs, 3 to 3.5 hours, 3 encounters. Drive off the Chimera; pride is the trap.
📜 Session Summary
| Style Mythic mountain chase about humility, teamwork, and staying mounted while fire fills the sky. |
| Win Condition Pegasus trusts mortal riders, the Chimera is driven from Lycia, and Bellerophon keeps his pride in check. |
| Loss Condition The hunt becomes a trophy boast; Pegasus bolts, the Chimera survives, and Lycia remembers vanity before rescue. |
| Players 6 × Level 8 · 3–3.5 hrs · 3 encounters |
| Key Ally Half-Tamed Pegasus (recruit Enc. Enc. 1 or Enc. 2) · Maguffin: Humble Bridle |
Description
Melanippe of the Bridle Shrine hooks the party. Maguffin Humble Bridle pays off in the finale against Chimera of the Bragging Crag. Recruit Half-Tamed Pegasus along the way.
Ride a half-tamed Pegasus to drive off a Chimera without claiming the kill for pride.
Major Beats
- Pegasus watches from a ridge and judges every hand movement.
- Bellerophon smiles like a hero one compliment away from ruin.
- The Chimera's three heads argue over which rider smells proudest.
- The best victory is loud in the sky and quiet at the feast.
Creature / Enemy List
| Creature | Easy | Med | Hard | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goatfire Cultist | — | med | hard | CR 3 · Ranged fanatic |
| Ash-Mane Lion | — | med | hard | CR 5 · Pouncing brute |
| Serpent of the Thermal Vents | — | med | hard | CR 6 · Terrain controller |
| Chimera of the Bragging Crag | — | med | hard | CR 10 · Boss, three-headed aerial terror |
| Half-Tamed Pegasus | — | 1 | 1 | Recruit Enc. Enc. 1 or Enc. 2 |
Encounter 1 — The Bridle Shrine
Overview
Earn the shrine's blessing, find Pegasus's tracks, and learn why this bargain punishes vanity.
🗺 Terrain
Olive grove shrine, dry streambed, thorn snare, high meadow, and a broken boast-stone.
Mechanics
- Recruit Pegasus with 4 successes before 2 failures using Animal Handling, Religion, Acrobatics, or Persuasion.
- Drawn weapons or trophy talk impose disadvantage until someone makes a sincere apology.
- The Humble Bridle may be offered, not forced; forcing it starts a chase instead of recruitment.
- Cultists spy from the rocks and flee if exposed without bloodshed.
Creature Cards
Melanippe of the Bridle Shrine
Priestess of Athena, keeper of a dangerous favor
Motivation. Make sure the Chimera is stopped by disciplined heroes rather than another glorious fool.
Secret. Bellerophon has already been warned that claiming the kill will cost Pegasus's trust.
Hard rule. She refuses to bless any plan that treats Pegasus as loot or a god-given siege engine.
Humble Bridle
Divine-adjacent tack, pact of restraint
Appearance: Plain leather with a moonlit bit that grows lighter when thanked.
Handout. "Hold with open hands. Ask before ascent. Return before applause."
Enc. 1–2. Grants advantage on one Animal Handling, Acrobatics, or Persuasion check involving Pegasus.
Enc. 3. If a rider refuses the killing blow while holding the bridle, Pegasus can force the Chimera to retreat.
Half-Tamed Pegasus
Medium Humanoid, Neutral · Recruitable Ally · Aerial mount, proud ally, and moral compass
AC 16 | HP 104 | Speed 30 ft.
Role: Aerial mount, proud ally, and moral compass
RECRUITMENT (Enc. Enc. 1 or Enc. 2). Approach without weapons drawn, free it from thorn snares, and promise not to claim the kill.
Aid. Acts on party initiative when recruited; prefers nonlethal when asked.
Strike. Hooves +8 to hit, 13 bludgeoning; wing burst lets one rider move 40 feet without provoking.
Goatfire Cultist
Medium Creature · CR 3 · Ranged fanatic
AC 14 | HP 49 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. Wants a hero to boast so the Chimera's legend grows.
Attack. Fire javelin +6 to hit, 9 piercing plus 7 fire.
Encounter 2 — Lessons Above Lycia
Overview
Practice shared riding, rescue shepherds, and map the Chimera's thermals before the final ascent.
🗺 Terrain
Switchback cliffs, shepherd ledges, hot updraft vents, and cloud gaps over a ravine.
Mechanics
- Each aerial stunt needs DC 15 Acrobatics, Athletics, Animal Handling, or Arcana to use wind safely.
- Failure separates a rider, costs Pegasus 10 HP, or lets an Ash-Mane Lion threaten civilians.
- Saving shepherds gives the route to the Bragging Crag and a safe landing zone in Enc. 3.
- Bellerophon shadows the party; humbling him now prevents a dangerous boast in the finale.
Creature Cards
Humble Bridle
Divine-adjacent tack, pact of restraint
Appearance: Plain leather with a moonlit bit that grows lighter when thanked.
Handout. "Hold with open hands. Ask before ascent. Return before applause."
Enc. 1–2. Grants advantage on one Animal Handling, Acrobatics, or Persuasion check involving Pegasus.
Enc. 3. If a rider refuses the killing blow while holding the bridle, Pegasus can force the Chimera to retreat.
Half-Tamed Pegasus
Medium Humanoid, Neutral · Recruitable Ally · Aerial mount, proud ally, and moral compass
AC 16 | HP 104 | Speed 30 ft.
Role: Aerial mount, proud ally, and moral compass
RECRUITMENT (Enc. Enc. 1 or Enc. 2). Approach without weapons drawn, free it from thorn snares, and promise not to claim the kill.
Aid. Acts on party initiative when recruited; prefers nonlethal when asked.
Strike. Hooves +8 to hit, 13 bludgeoning; wing burst lets one rider move 40 feet without provoking.
Ash-Mane Lion
Medium Creature · CR 5 · Pouncing brute
AC 15 | HP 102 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. A Chimera-spawned omen; can be driven away with water, thunder, or superior high ground.
Attack. Bite +7 to hit, 15 piercing; pounce knocks prone on DC 15 Strength.
Serpent of the Thermal Vents
Medium Creature · CR 6 · Terrain controller
AC 16 | HP 118 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. Coils around vents that launch flyers upward or burn grounded creatures.
Attack. Venom bite +8 to hit, 12 piercing plus 14 poison; vent flare recharges on 5-6.
Encounter 3 — The Bragging Crag
Overview
Battle the Chimera amid volcanic updrafts while denying it the boast that feeds its legend.
🗺 Terrain
Basalt spire, three thermal vents, broken hero statues, cloud shelf, and a smoking goat-path.
Mechanics
- At initiative 20, choose a vent: lift 30 feet, fire burst 14 damage, or smoke lightly obscures a lane.
- Mounted PCs can trade an action to steady another rider and prevent a fall.
- Maguffin payoff: refuse the killing blow with the Humble Bridle to let Pegasus drive the Chimera off.
- If someone boasts ownership of the kill, the Chimera heals 25 HP and Pegasus demands a DC 17 apology check.
Creature Cards
Humble Bridle
Divine-adjacent tack, pact of restraint
Appearance: Plain leather with a moonlit bit that grows lighter when thanked.
Handout. "Hold with open hands. Ask before ascent. Return before applause."
Enc. 1–2. Grants advantage on one Animal Handling, Acrobatics, or Persuasion check involving Pegasus.
Enc. 3. If a rider refuses the killing blow while holding the bridle, Pegasus can force the Chimera to retreat.
Half-Tamed Pegasus
Medium Humanoid, Neutral · Recruitable Ally · Aerial mount, proud ally, and moral compass
AC 16 | HP 104 | Speed 30 ft.
Role: Aerial mount, proud ally, and moral compass
RECRUITMENT (Enc. Enc. 1 or Enc. 2). Approach without weapons drawn, free it from thorn snares, and promise not to claim the kill.
Aid. Acts on party initiative when recruited; prefers nonlethal when asked.
Strike. Hooves +8 to hit, 13 bludgeoning; wing burst lets one rider move 40 feet without provoking.
Serpent of the Thermal Vents
Medium Creature · CR 6 · Terrain controller
AC 16 | HP 118 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. Coils around vents that launch flyers upward or burn grounded creatures.
Attack. Venom bite +8 to hit, 12 piercing plus 14 poison; vent flare recharges on 5-6.
Chimera of the Bragging Crag
Large Creature · CR 10 · Boss, three-headed aerial terror · Boss
AC 17 | HP 188 | Speed 40 ft.
Role: Boss, three-headed aerial terror
Note. Boss last. It can be slain as a monster, but best victory drives it off without a pride-claim.
Hard encounter focus. Win condition may be steal, escape, disable, or drive-off — not always kill.
Multiattack / Assault. Bite, horns, and claws; fire breath recharges on 5-6 for DC 16 Dexterity, 45 fire.
Advance (1). Move up to half Speed.
Strike (1). One attack from Assault.
⚖️ Difficulty Scaling
As Written ★ — 6 Players, Average Level 8
- Baseline for this guide. Numbers, DCs, and win tracks assume six PCs at average level 8.
Library Standard — 6 Players, Average Level 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.
📋 Appendix — Cards
Melanippe of the Bridle Shrine
Priestess of Athena, keeper of a dangerous favor
Motivation. Make sure the Chimera is stopped by disciplined heroes rather than another glorious fool.
Secret. Bellerophon has already been warned that claiming the kill will cost Pegasus's trust.
Hard rule. She refuses to bless any plan that treats Pegasus as loot or a god-given siege engine.
Humble Bridle
Divine-adjacent tack, pact of restraint
Appearance: Plain leather with a moonlit bit that grows lighter when thanked.
Handout. "Hold with open hands. Ask before ascent. Return before applause."
Enc. 1–2. Grants advantage on one Animal Handling, Acrobatics, or Persuasion check involving Pegasus.
Enc. 3. If a rider refuses the killing blow while holding the bridle, Pegasus can force the Chimera to retreat.
Half-Tamed Pegasus
Medium Humanoid, Neutral · Recruitable Ally · Aerial mount, proud ally, and moral compass
AC 16 | HP 104 | Speed 30 ft.
Role: Aerial mount, proud ally, and moral compass
RECRUITMENT (Enc. Enc. 1 or Enc. 2). Approach without weapons drawn, free it from thorn snares, and promise not to claim the kill.
Aid. Acts on party initiative when recruited; prefers nonlethal when asked.
Strike. Hooves +8 to hit, 13 bludgeoning; wing burst lets one rider move 40 feet without provoking.
Goatfire Cultist
Medium Creature · CR 3 · Ranged fanatic
AC 14 | HP 49 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. Wants a hero to boast so the Chimera's legend grows.
Attack. Fire javelin +6 to hit, 9 piercing plus 7 fire.
Ash-Mane Lion
Medium Creature · CR 5 · Pouncing brute
AC 15 | HP 102 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. A Chimera-spawned omen; can be driven away with water, thunder, or superior high ground.
Attack. Bite +7 to hit, 15 piercing; pounce knocks prone on DC 15 Strength.
Serpent of the Thermal Vents
Medium Creature · CR 6 · Terrain controller
AC 16 | HP 118 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. Coils around vents that launch flyers upward or burn grounded creatures.
Attack. Venom bite +8 to hit, 12 piercing plus 14 poison; vent flare recharges on 5-6.
Chimera of the Bragging Crag
Large Creature · CR 10 · Boss, three-headed aerial terror · Boss
AC 17 | HP 188 | Speed 40 ft.
Role: Boss, three-headed aerial terror
Note. Boss last. It can be slain as a monster, but best victory drives it off without a pride-claim.
Hard encounter focus. Win condition may be steal, escape, disable, or drive-off — not always kill.
Multiattack / Assault. Bite, horns, and claws; fire breath recharges on 5-6 for DC 16 Dexterity, 45 fire.
Advance (1). Move up to half Speed.
Strike (1). One attack from Assault.