The Wrath of Pyrakmon

Overview

A flock of Harpies led by a hulking Harpy Matriarch descends from storm-cover and attacks the trireme. Two harpies immediately bank toward the sails while the Matriarch dives on the most heavily-armoured combatant visible on deck. The charmed oarsmen are the real clock — if enough of them walk overboard, the party cannot row to shore.

Mechanics

• Initiative: Roll the 5 harpies as a group; roll the Matriarch separately
• Luring Song — Crew NPCs: 8 crew have WIS +0; each makes a DC 11 save at the start of their turn. On a fail they spend their turn walking toward the nearest singing harpy. Three crew overboard = the ship cannot make harbour under sail or oar power alone (Kairos will improvise but the party drifts; treat as "both sails down" for rest purposes)
• Sail Targeting: Two designated harpies (DM choice) spend their action clawing a sail (AC 10, no attack roll needed against Sail AC if uncontested). A PC can interpose as a reaction — they become the target instead, taking the harpy's claw attack automatically
• Matriarch Dive Priority: She targets the highest-AC visible PC; uses Dive Bomb on round 1 (she moved 40 ft. descending from cloud cover); attempts Talon Rake grapple on round 2 and lifts the target 15 ft. into the rigging
• Flee Threshold: Harpies with no Matriarch and 3+ harpies dead will scatter on the following round (DC 11 WIS group morale check — roll in the open)

• Pouring a flask of oil on a sail and lighting it fills the immediate area with smoke (15-ft. radius): harpies within have disadvantage on attacks, but the sail loses 5 HP and may catch fully if oil is doubled
• A PC that succeeds on the DC 14 Performance check to counter-sing becomes the Matriarch's primary target on her next turn (she is deeply offended)

Resolution

• If the Matriarch dies while still grappling a PC in the air, her grip releases — the PC falls from whatever height she'd carried them (max 15 ft. = 1d6 bludgeoning)
• Searching the Matriarch's body (DC 12 Investigation) reveals a silver armband engraved with a single staring eye and the letters ΠΥΡ — a hint that Pyrakmon deploys harpies as island sentinels
• If 4+ crew were lost overboard, Captain Kairos cannot arrive to assist in Encounter 3 (he's managing the reduced crew)

Creature Cards

Overview

The ruined coastal temple was once devoted to a forgotten sea-god, but Kithara — a Medusa cast off by Pyrakmon after years of servitude — has claimed it as her domain. She animates the petrified remains of previous victims as Skeleton Archers and lurks in the deep shadows between columns. She is not mindlessly hostile; she despises Pyrakmon. But she will strike without warning if she feels cornered.

Mechanics

• Triggers at the start of each creature's turn if it can see Kithara's eyes and is within 30 ft.; Kithara must not be Incapacitated
• Fail: Restrained (stone is spreading). Same creature fails again at the start of its next turn: Petrified. Greater Restoration or similar magic reverses Petrification
• Avert Eyes (declare at start of turn): immune to Gaze that turn, but attacks against Kithara have Disadvantage
• Skeletons are immune. Kithara herself is immune to Petrification
• A creature Blinded by any means is also immune to the Gaze but Kithara can target them with her bow instead

• A PC that picks up the Polished Bronze Votary Shield can spend their action to angle it at Kithara
• Kithara must succeed on a DC 15 CON save or be Restrained until end of her next turn (her own reflected gaze stuns her). She is immune to this effect after her first successful save
• Using the mirror costs the full action — the PC cannot also attack; melee PCs should hand it off to a support character

• Kithara will pause hostilities if a PC spends their action to call out "We are enemies of Pyrakmon!" — she does not attack that PC this round (skeletons still act)
• DC 15 Persuasion: She calls off the skeletons for 1 round and listens properly
• DC 17 Persuasion + proof (e.g., showing the Wineskin of Maron or the Matriarch's armband): She stands down entirely, offers to speak, and hands over the Bronze Shield freely
• If she stands down she reveals: (1) Pyrakmon's eye is vulnerable — fire attacks deal +2d6 to the eye specifically; (2) he has a slight blind spot to the right where old scarring rims the socket; (3) the sailors are alive, caged in bone and chain at the back of the cave
• She will not join the party as a combatant, but promises to leave the island if they bring proof of Pyrakmon's death

• Animate from four petrified statues on round 1 as Kithara's Bonus Action ("Awaken Dead")
• If Kithara is killed, all four skeletons crumble to dust instantly
• If negotiation succeeds before round 1, skeletons never animate
• Skeletons prioritise targeting PCs who are not averting eyes — they want faces turned toward Kithara

Resolution

• Any PC who was Petrified and then freed is Stunned until the end of their next turn (stone-shock disorientation)
• If the cave map fragment is found, the DM may sketch its basic shape for the players — showing the fire pit location, the cage at the rear wall, and the rock-pile columns

Creature Cards

Overview

The sea cave of Pyrakmon reeks of brine and old meat. A central fire pit casts orange light across crude wall-carvings. Two Giant Cave Hounds are chained near the entrance and strain at their iron leads. Against the far wall, Elara's six sailors are jammed into a cage of whalebone and chain. The Wineskin of Maron that Elara provided is the single best tactical tool in this encounter — use it before initiative if possible.

Mechanics

• Pre-Combat Offer (best use): If the party approaches openly and offers the wine before initiative, Pyrakmon accepts greedily. He is Distracted for 1 full round — the party gets a free surprise round of actions before he rolls initiative
• In Combat (action): A PC adjacent to Pyrakmon attempts to tip the flask into his mouth — DC 15 Athletics or Sleight of Hand. Success: delivers 1 measure. Pyrakmon has Disadvantage on the DC 17 CON save (Giants cannot resist Maron's wine)
• On Failed CON Save: Pyrakmon is Poisoned (disadvantage on attacks and ability checks) and Incapacitated until the end of his next turn
• On Successful CON Save: Pyrakmon is Poisoned only (no incapacitation)
• All 3 uses delivered: Automatic fail. Incapacitated for 2 full rounds. See Eye below for the blinding window
• Each use = 1 measure of wine; target must be willing or grappled for each dose

• The eye can be targeted while Pyrakmon is Incapacitated or Restrained — a called shot (action), attack roll against AC 20. On a hit that deals 15+ damage in a single strike, Pyrakmon is Blinded permanently for the rest of the encounter
• Blinded: all his attack rolls and Perception checks have Disadvantage; Rock attacks also still have their existing Disadvantage (double Disadvantage = still just Disadvantage by 2024 rules, but feels appropriately desperate)
• If Kithara gave the party intel in Encounter 2: fire attacks to the eye deal +2d6 bonus fire damage on a hit, making the 15-damage threshold much easier to hit
• A Blinded Pyrakmon becomes Frightened of any PC he cannot locate (Invisible or behind total cover) and will use Legendary Actions offensively against known targets only

• Round 1: Earthshaker charge toward the densest group; Bonus Action to release hounds; Multiattack on the nearest PC
• Rounds 2–3: Continues Multiattack on most-damaged target; uses Fling on any Medium or smaller PC who has been hitting him consistently; saves Rock for PCs who are at range and have dealt significant damage
• Rounds 4–5: If below 100 HP, begins manoeuvring toward fire pit to shove PCs in; uses Thunderous Roar if it recharges; Legendary Move action to close on fleeing PCs
• Parley at 50 HP: Pyrakmon roars for a pause: "Give me your shiniest thing and go." If refused or attacked, he fights to the death and his Blind Swipe reaction becomes free-use (not once per round) — he is berserk

• Cage requires 40 HP damage or DC 20 Athletics (action). Each action spent on the cage while Pyrakmon is alive: 1-in-4 chance a sailor is targeted by his next Rock (DM rolls openly)
• Freed sailors should be directed to the tidal pool (south) — Pyrakmon cannot reach them there
• Captain Kairos (if alive and signalled) arrives end of Round 6 with 4 oarsmen to carry out the injured

Resolution

• 800 gp quest reward from Elara (+200 bonus if all crew alive)
• Pyrakmon's Hoard: 1,200 gp in mixed coin and jewellery; 2× Spell Scroll (Protection from Evil and Good; Stone Shape); 1× Trident of Fish Command (DMG)
• Naxian Seal — quest item; recoverable with DC 14 Investigation; see Elara's Secret for true value
• Polished Bronze Shield from Encounter 2 (if not yet taken) — if the party blessed it at the altar, treat as a +1 Shield for the remainder of the campaign

Creature Cards