Chains on Caucasus
A storm-climb to the titan's iron crag.
📜 Session Summary
| Style High-altitude rescue with a moral branch, for 6 level-8 PCs across 3 rugged encounters. |
| Win Condition Break, loosen, or sanctify the chains so Prometheus' suffering no longer feeds the eagle-cult. |
| Loss Condition The cult keeps the wound open and turns stolen divine fire into a beacon for tyrants. |
| Players 6 × Level 11 · 3–3.5 hrs · 3 encounters |
| Key Ally Io the Wind-Lost (recruit Enc. 1) · Maguffin: Kindling Nail |
Description
Dione of the Ash Lantern hooks the party. Maguffin Kindling Nail pays off in the finale against Aetos, Eagle-Wound Hierophant. Recruit Io the Wind-Lost along the way.
Free (or refuse to free) Prometheus while eagle-cultists try to keep the wound open.
Major Beats
- Dione frames the mission as rescue, then admits rescue has consequences.
- The mountain tests strength, mercy, and patience before blades matter.
- The cult believes pain is a renewable holy resource.
- Prometheus asks what kind of freedom mortals are ready to defend.
Creature / Enemy List
| Creature | Easy | Med | Hard | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eagle-Cult Zealot | — | med | hard | CR 3 · Fanatic skirmisher |
| Crag Harpy Bloodcaller | — | med | hard | CR 4 · Aerial controller |
| Chainbound Giant | — | med | hard | CR 7 · Titanic bruiser |
| Aetos, Eagle-Wound Hierophant | — | med | hard | CR 10 · Boss cult priest |
| Io the Wind-Lost | — | 1 | 1 | Recruit Enc. 1 |
Encounter 1 — The Climb of Stolen Sparks
Overview
Ascend storm cliffs under harpy song while sparks from Prometheus' wound fall like meteors.
🗺 Terrain
Three switchback ledges, rope bridge, ash-snow chute, and a ruined shepherd shrine.
Mechanics
- Group climb: 6 successes before 3 failures at DC 15 using Athletics, Survival, Nature, or Medicine.
- Failure costs hit dice from cold and thin air, then draws a Crag Harpy Bloodcaller.
- The Kindling Nail anchors one impossible crossing for automatic progress.
- Recruit Io by rescuing her from a bloodsong lure or accepting her warning about the chains.
Creature Cards
Dione of the Ash Lantern
Fire-scarred priest, quest giver
Motivation. She wants the cult stopped before they sell Promethean pain as miracle-fire.
Secret. She fears freeing Prometheus may start a divine reprisal and accepts a merciful half-measure.
Hard rule. Prometheus must not be killed; his death would not end the fire, only scatter it uncontrolled.
Kindling Nail
Adamant relic, chain wedge
Appearance: Black nail with a coal-red seam and a head shaped like a tiny torch.
Handout. "Drive it where iron learned cruelty; turn once for mercy, twice for rebellion."
Enc. 1–2. Can anchor a rope, calm divine fire, or grant advantage on one Athletics check during the climb.
Enc. 3. Wedged into the central shackle, it lets the party free, loosen, or consecrate the chains.
Io the Wind-Lost
Medium Humanoid, Neutral · Recruitable Ally · Scout, omen-reader, and reluctant witness
AC 14 | HP 71 | Speed 30 ft.
Role: Scout, omen-reader, and reluctant witness
RECRUITMENT (Enc. 1). Save her from harpies without demanding her prophecy, or share water and listen to her warning.
Aid. Acts on party initiative when recruited; prefers nonlethal when asked.
Strike. Gore of wind +7 to hit, 13 piercing; can reveal a safe ledge once per encounter.
Crag Harpy Bloodcaller
Medium Creature · CR 4 · Aerial controller
AC 14 | HP 90 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. Her song can be answered with Performance or thunder to break the lure.
Attack. Bloodsong DC 15 Wis or move toward the nearest cliff edge.
Encounter 2 — The Cult of the Open Wound
Overview
Raid or parley at a cliffside camp where zealots bottle sparks from the titan's torment.
🗺 Terrain
Wind tents, spark vats, chained giant pen, altar crane, and cliff paths on two elevations.
Mechanics
- Stealth or parley can disable two spark vats before combat begins.
- Each intact vat lets a zealot add 7 fire damage once; Medicine or Religion DC 16 spoils a vat.
- The Chainbound Giant attacks everyone until its pain brand is broken or the altar crane is dropped.
- Io identifies which zealot carries the rite-key if treated as a person, not an omen.
Creature Cards
Eagle-Cult Zealot
Medium Creature · CR 3 · Fanatic skirmisher
AC 15 | HP 72 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. Fights harder near exposed drops but may flee if the eagle omen fails.
Attack. Hooked spear +6 to hit, 12 piercing and pulls 10 ft.
Chainbound Giant
Medium Creature · CR 7 · Titanic bruiser
AC 17 | HP 148 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. A victim of the cult; can be freed from frenzy by breaking its pain brand.
Attack. Iron sweep +8 to hit, 22 bludgeoning and knocks prone.
Io the Wind-Lost
Medium Humanoid, Neutral · Recruitable Ally · Scout, omen-reader, and reluctant witness
AC 14 | HP 71 | Speed 30 ft.
Role: Scout, omen-reader, and reluctant witness
RECRUITMENT (Enc. 1). Save her from harpies without demanding her prophecy, or share water and listen to her warning.
Aid. Acts on party initiative when recruited; prefers nonlethal when asked.
Strike. Gore of wind +7 to hit, 13 piercing; can reveal a safe ledge once per encounter.
Kindling Nail
Adamant relic, chain wedge
Appearance: Black nail with a coal-red seam and a head shaped like a tiny torch.
Handout. "Drive it where iron learned cruelty; turn once for mercy, twice for rebellion."
Enc. 1–2. Can anchor a rope, calm divine fire, or grant advantage on one Athletics check during the climb.
Enc. 3. Wedged into the central shackle, it lets the party free, loosen, or consecrate the chains.
Encounter 3 — Prometheus Beneath the Eagle
Overview
At the iron crag, choose freedom, refusal, or mercy while Aetos keeps the eagle diving.
🗺 Terrain
Central shackle dais, Prometheus' ledge, eagle perches, chain winches, and storm gaps.
Mechanics
- Three chain seals require actions and DC 16 checks; each seal changes the moral outcome.
- The Kindling Nail decides the finish: free him, loosen torment, or consecrate the wound closed.
- At initiative 20 the eagle dives; disabling perches or calming it with Animal Handling DC 16 redirects the strike.
- Win by ending the rite and escaping divine attention; killing Aetos is optional and not sufficient.
Creature Cards
Aetos, Eagle-Wound Hierophant
Large Creature · CR 10 · Boss cult priest · Boss
AC 18 | HP 196 | Speed 40 ft.
Role: Boss cult priest
Note. Defeat by breaking his rite, freeing the eagle from command, or forcing retreat.
Hard encounter focus. Win condition may be steal, escape, disable, or drive-off — not always kill.
Multiattack / Assault. Woundfire lance +9 to hit, 21 radiant/fire and prevents healing until next turn.
Advance (1). Move up to half Speed.
Strike (1). One attack from Assault.
Kindling Nail
Adamant relic, chain wedge
Appearance: Black nail with a coal-red seam and a head shaped like a tiny torch.
Handout. "Drive it where iron learned cruelty; turn once for mercy, twice for rebellion."
Enc. 1–2. Can anchor a rope, calm divine fire, or grant advantage on one Athletics check during the climb.
Enc. 3. Wedged into the central shackle, it lets the party free, loosen, or consecrate the chains.
Io the Wind-Lost
Medium Humanoid, Neutral · Recruitable Ally · Scout, omen-reader, and reluctant witness
AC 14 | HP 71 | Speed 30 ft.
Role: Scout, omen-reader, and reluctant witness
RECRUITMENT (Enc. 1). Save her from harpies without demanding her prophecy, or share water and listen to her warning.
Aid. Acts on party initiative when recruited; prefers nonlethal when asked.
Strike. Gore of wind +7 to hit, 13 piercing; can reveal a safe ledge once per encounter.
Chainbound Giant
Medium Creature · CR 7 · Titanic bruiser
AC 17 | HP 148 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. A victim of the cult; can be freed from frenzy by breaking its pain brand.
Attack. Iron sweep +8 to hit, 22 bludgeoning and knocks prone.
⚖️ Difficulty Scaling
As Written ★ — 6 Players, Average Level 11
- Baseline for this guide. Numbers, DCs, and win tracks assume six PCs at average level 11.
Library Standard — 6 Players, Average Level 8
- Reduce boss HP ~25–30% and save DCs −1; remove 1–2 minions per wave; allow one free short-rest beat after Enc. 1.
Easier
- APL 9–10: use Library Standard, then Favor/track win −1 or boss HP −10%.
Harder
- APL 12–13: boss HP +25%; add a lieutenant; no free rest.
📋 Appendix — Cards
Dione of the Ash Lantern
Fire-scarred priest, quest giver
Motivation. She wants the cult stopped before they sell Promethean pain as miracle-fire.
Secret. She fears freeing Prometheus may start a divine reprisal and accepts a merciful half-measure.
Hard rule. Prometheus must not be killed; his death would not end the fire, only scatter it uncontrolled.
Kindling Nail
Adamant relic, chain wedge
Appearance: Black nail with a coal-red seam and a head shaped like a tiny torch.
Handout. "Drive it where iron learned cruelty; turn once for mercy, twice for rebellion."
Enc. 1–2. Can anchor a rope, calm divine fire, or grant advantage on one Athletics check during the climb.
Enc. 3. Wedged into the central shackle, it lets the party free, loosen, or consecrate the chains.
Io the Wind-Lost
Medium Humanoid, Neutral · Recruitable Ally · Scout, omen-reader, and reluctant witness
AC 14 | HP 71 | Speed 30 ft.
Role: Scout, omen-reader, and reluctant witness
RECRUITMENT (Enc. 1). Save her from harpies without demanding her prophecy, or share water and listen to her warning.
Aid. Acts on party initiative when recruited; prefers nonlethal when asked.
Strike. Gore of wind +7 to hit, 13 piercing; can reveal a safe ledge once per encounter.
Eagle-Cult Zealot
Medium Creature · CR 3 · Fanatic skirmisher
AC 15 | HP 72 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. Fights harder near exposed drops but may flee if the eagle omen fails.
Attack. Hooked spear +6 to hit, 12 piercing and pulls 10 ft.
Crag Harpy Bloodcaller
Medium Creature · CR 4 · Aerial controller
AC 14 | HP 90 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. Her song can be answered with Performance or thunder to break the lure.
Attack. Bloodsong DC 15 Wis or move toward the nearest cliff edge.
Chainbound Giant
Medium Creature · CR 7 · Titanic bruiser
AC 17 | HP 148 | Speed 30 ft.
Note. A victim of the cult; can be freed from frenzy by breaking its pain brand.
Attack. Iron sweep +8 to hit, 22 bludgeoning and knocks prone.
Aetos, Eagle-Wound Hierophant
Large Creature · CR 10 · Boss cult priest · Boss
AC 18 | HP 196 | Speed 40 ft.
Role: Boss cult priest
Note. Defeat by breaking his rite, freeing the eagle from command, or forcing retreat.
Hard encounter focus. Win condition may be steal, escape, disable, or drive-off — not always kill.
Multiattack / Assault. Woundfire lance +9 to hit, 21 radiant/fire and prevents healing until next turn.
Advance (1). Move up to half Speed.
Strike (1). One attack from Assault.