Sinbad and the Roc of Serendib
One-Shot · 6 PCs Lvl 8 · ~3–3.5 hrs · Greek–Arabian crossover · Sinbad ally · Roc boss
Style: Cyclops toll → Diamond valley / Old Man → Roc nest |
Win: Drive off Roc of Serendib (preferred) or 0 HP; extract crew
Guest: Sinbad the Sailor · Maguffin: Serendib Noon-Diamond · Shore / valley / nest ledge (trireme at anchor).
"When the mountain-bird stoops for its stolen moon, flash Serendib’s noon — nest remembers sky, and sky remembers mercy." — Serendib Noon-Diamond
Major Beats
- Mist → crossover shore; meet Sinbad; Noon-Diamond.
- Enc. 1: Valley Cyclops — gift / riddle / fight.
- Enc. 2: Serpents + Old Man of the Sea; free Layla; false egg.
- Enc. 3: Roc nest; diamond (+ smash false egg) drive-off.
Creature List
| Creature | E/M/H | Mythos |
|---|
| Valley Cyclops | 1 | Greek + Sinbad |
| Diamond Serpent | 1/2/3 | Arabian valley |
| Old Man of the Sea | 1 | Arabian (↔ Proteus) |
| Ghul (opt) | 0/0–1/2 | Arabian |
| Nest Griffin | 0/0–1/2 | Shared |
| Roc of Serendib | 1 | Rukh / sky-terror |
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 One-Eyed Toll
Medium · Valley Cyclops · gift / riddle / fight
- Non-combat: guest-gift 25+ gp or riddle group Int/Perf 3 before 3 (DC 14) or diamond flash + Ath DC 13 sprint.
- Combat: AC14 HP138 · Club +9 (3d8+6) · Rock +9 · disadv attacks >30 ft.
- Peaceful / clear win → Long Rest; forced sprint → Short Rest.
ENC 2 — Diamonds and the Old Man
Skill/Medium · 2 serpents · Old Man rides a PC · Layla bound
- Stealth/Survival group DC 14 to ease serpent pressure.
- Old Man ride: Ath contest DC 15, wine+Perf DC 14, or diamond flash auto-ends once. Sinbad Helps first try.
- Free Layla Ath DC 12 → identifies false egg; joins Enc. 3.
- False egg AC12/HP20 — better smash in Enc. 3 with diamond finale.
ENC 3 — Roc of Serendib
Hard · Nest ledge 30×40 · 40 ft drop · false egg center
- AC15 HP198 · Beak/Talons +13 · Snatch R5–6 · Nest Quake Dex DC 17 1/day · LA.
- Diamond finale Con DC 15 blind 1 rd + drop Snatch/Quake; +smash egg → soft drive-off at ≤50% HP.
- Preferred win: drive off · Alternate: 0 HP.
KEY ITEM / NPCS
Serendib Noon-Diamond
- 1/SR: flash ≤30 ft Dex DC 13 blind 1 rd.
- Finale once: Roc Con DC 15 blind + no Snatch/Quake; +smash false egg enables soft drive-off ≤50% HP.
Sinbad the Sailor
- Motivation: Recover crew; end the false-egg torment without needing to butcher every wonder.
- Secret: He recognized the cyclops breed — and still suggests wit first.
- Roleplay: Boastful, generous, allergic to hopelessness; quotes both wine-dark and spice-wind seas.
Layla of Basra
- Free in Enc. 2 → false-egg ID + Help in Enc. 3.
Crossover Reminder
- Cyclops & griffin = shared · Serpents/ghul/Old Man = Arabian · Roc/rukh = boss · Proteus echo optional naming.
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