Bellerophon's Bargain

For 6 level 8 PCs, 3 to 3.5 hours, 3 encounters. Drive off the Chimera; pride is the trap.

Style: Mythic mountain chase about humility, teamwork, and staying mounted while fire fills the sky.
Win: Pegasus trusts mortal riders, the Chimera is driven from Lycia, and Bellerophon keeps his pride in check.
Lose: The hunt becomes a trophy boast; Pegasus bolts, the Chimera survives, and Lycia remembers vanity before rescue.
Maguffin: Humble Bridle · Ally: Half-Tamed Pegasus · QG: Melanippe of the Bridle Shrine

"A moon-silver bridle tag etched with 'borrowed wings return heavier than stolen ones.'"

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.

Difficulty

Tier	Adjust
As Written ★	6 PCs · APL 8
Library Standard	6 PCs · APL 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.

ENC 1 — The Bridle Shrine

Enc. 1 - Recruitment · ~50 min · Olive grove shrine, dry streambed, thorn snare, high meadow, and a broken boast-stone.

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.

ENC 2 — Lessons Above Lycia

Enc. 2 - Aerial skill challenge · ~55 min · Switchback cliffs, shepherd ledges, hot updraft vents, and cloud gaps over a ravine.

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.

ENC 3 — The Bragging Crag

Enc. 3 - Hard boss hunt · ~85 min · Basalt spire, three thermal vents, broken hero statues, cloud shelf, and a smoking goat-path.

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.

STAT BLOCKS

Default: 6 PCs level 8; 3 encounters; 3 to 3.5 hours.
Recruit Pegasus in Enc. 1/2; do not treat it as equipment.
Enc. 3 is Hard and includes aerial movement hazards.
The Chimera can be driven off instead of killed.
Maguffin payoff requires humility at the finishing moment.

Maguffin

Humble Bridle

Grants advantage on one Animal Handling, Acrobatics, or Persuasion check involving Pegasus.
If a rider refuses the killing blow while holding the bridle, Pegasus can force the Chimera to retreat.

NPC / ALLY

Melanippe of the Bridle Shrine

Make sure the Chimera is stopped by disciplined heroes rather than another glorious fool.
She refuses to bless any plan that treats Pegasus as loot or a god-given siege engine.

Half-Tamed Pegasus

Recruit Enc. Enc. 1 or Enc. 2: Approach without weapons drawn, free it from thorn snares, and promise not to claim the kill.
AC 16 · HP 104 · Hooves +8 to hit, 13 bludgeoning; wing burst lets one rider move 40 feet without provoking.

Remember

Pegasus trusts mortal riders, the Chimera is driven from Lycia, and Bellerophon keeps his pride in check.

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