The Ford of Twin Spears

One-Shot · 6 PCs · Level 8 · Amazon–Spartan Border · ~3–3.5 hrs · Enc. 3 has 3 branches

Style: Faction crisis → Parley → Branched Hard finale | Win: End the war without executing Atalanta or Leonidas | Setting: Misthaven mist → sacred ford between Amazon hunt-camp and Spartan column.

Sister Eirene gives the Twin-Seal of the Ford. Enc. 1 scout collision; Enc. 2 expose Mask of Discord; Enc. 3 = Amazons / Spartans / Peace+construct.

"When bow and spear both cry injustice, bind crescent to lambda at the ford-stone — or gift the face you trust in battle." — Twin-Seal (23 words).

Major Beats

Misthaven — Eirene + Twin-Seal; mist to fordlands.
Enc. 1: Amazon vs Spartan scout ambush; de-escalate; recruit Myrto and/or Doulos.
Audiences with Atalanta & Leonidas.
Enc. 2: Proof hunt; expose Mask; lock Branch A/B/C.
Enc. 3: One finale only (see page 2).

Finale Branch Unlock

Branch	Unlock	Enc. 3
A Amazons	Pledge to Atalanta; no Spartan alliance	Party+Atalanta vs Leonidas host; Leonidas yields (nonlethal)
B Spartans	Pledge to Leonidas; no Amazon alliance	Party+Leonidas vs Atalanta host; Atalanta yields (nonlethal)
C Peace	Proof to both; expose Mask	Both allies vs Strife-Wrought Champion; seal bind

Creature List

Creature	E	M	H	Notes
Amazon Archer	3	4	6	Enc1 / Br B
Amazon Outrider	1	2	3	Enc1 / Br B
Spartan Hoplite	3	4	6	Enc1 / Br A
Spartan Lochagos	0	1	1	Enc1 / Br A
Atalanta / Leonidas	—	1	1	Iconic — no execute
Mask of Discord	1	1	1	Enc2
Strife-Wrought Champion	adj	1	1	Boss Br C

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.

ENCOUNTER 1 — Fordfall Ambush

Medium · 40–50 min · avoidable | Woods/road 100×60 ft

3 Amazon Archers + Myrto vs 3 Spartan Hoplites + Doulos (mutual false alarm).
De-escalate: show Twin-Seal → pause; group Persuasion/Performance DC 13 (3 before 3 fails).
Insight DC 12: neither expected the other.
Combat: nonlethal; +Outrider or Lochagos rd 3 if lethal used.
Recruit: spare/heal Myrto and/or Doulos (both → Branch C setup).

ENCOUNTER 2 — Parley at the Ford-Stone

Skill · 50–60 min | Plaza 80×80 ft

Audiences: Atalanta & Leonidas each Persuasion/Insight DC 14 (seal = adv once/camp).
Proof hunt: 4 successes before 3 failures (Inv/Surv/Rel/SoH/Arc DC 13–15). Both scouts recruited = 1 free success.
Branch C: present proof to both same scene (Perf/Pers group DC 15).
Cornered Mask of Discord fights / flees to bronze cache.
Branch A/B: public pledge without full proof → opposing camp is dusk enemy.

ENCOUNTER 3A — Amazons

Hard · Party + Atalanta vs Leonidas + 4 Hoplites + Lochagos

Win: Leonidas 0 HP nonlethal or aspis destroyed (AC 19/HP 40) or Persuasion DC 16 when bloodied + ≥3 hoplites down.
Token crescent → Atalanta +2 atk/saves 1 min; free Pinning Shot once.
Do not kill Leonidas.

ENCOUNTER 3B — Spartans

Hard · Party + Leonidas vs Atalanta + 4 Archers + 2 Outriders

Win: Atalanta 0 HP nonlethal or hunt-banner destroyed (AC 14/HP 25) or pin Athletics DC 16 while bloodied.
Token lambda → Leonidas +2 atk/saves 1 min; free Hold the Ford once.
Do not kill Atalanta.

ENCOUNTER 3C — Peace / True Foe

Hard · Strife-Wrought Champion + Mask; Atalanta & Leonidas ally

Win: Champion to 0 HP. Capture Mask = bonus.
Bind Twin-Seal at ford-stone (action): Champion loses LA + 30 psychic once.
Optional ally simplification: each captain 2 attacks/rd +7 (2d8+4).

CREATURE STAT BLOCKS

Atalanta — Iconic

Medium Humanoid, CG · CR 8

AC 17 | HP 127 | Speed 40 ft. | DEX 20

3× attacks: Longbow +9 (1d8+5 +2d6 psychic if target hit ally); Shortsword +9.
Pinning Shot (5–6): restrain Str DC 16.
LA: Move 20 / Shot / Call Hunt (2).
Oppose = nonlethal / banner / surrender only.

Leonidas — Iconic

Medium Humanoid, LN · CR 8

AC 20 | HP 136 | Speed 30 ft. | STR 20

3× Spear +9 (1d8+5); Shield Bash prone Str DC 17.
Hold the Ford (1/rest): allies 15 temp HP.
LA: Command hoplite / +2 AC / Counterthrust (2).
Oppose = nonlethal / aspis break / yield only.

Amazon Archer

AC 15 | HP 39 | CR 2 · 2× Shortbow +5 (1d6+3)

Skirmish Step 10 ft after ranged atk

Amazon Outrider

AC 14 | HP 52 | CR 3 · 2× Spear +4 · Trample Dex DC 13

Spartan Hoplite

AC 18 | HP 45 | CR 2 · 2× Spear +5 · Shield Wall

Spartan Lochagos

AC 19 | HP 75 | CR 4 · 3× Spear +6 · Order Advance

Mask of Discord

Medium Fey shapechanger · CR 5

AC 15 | HP 84 | DEX/CHA 18

2× Dagger +7 (1d4+4 +2d6 psychic).
Discordant Whisper (4–6): Wis DC 15 attack ally.

Strife-Wrought Champion — BOSS

Large Construct · CR 9

AC 17 | HP 161 (120/200) | Speed 40 ft.

Glaive +9 (2d10+5) ×2 + Shield-Slam prone Str DC 17.
War-Cry (5–6): Wis DC 15 fear cone.
LA: Advance / Glaive / Split the Line (2).
Seal bind: lose LA + 30 psychic once.

KEY ITEMS

Twin-Seal of the Ford

Faces: Amazon crescent / Spartan lambda; olive cord.
Enc1–2: adv on one social check per camp.
War finale: gift matching face → champion +2 atk/saves 1 min + special once.
Peace finale: bind at ford-stone → boss loses LA + 30 psychic.

NPC QUICK REFERENCE

Sister Eirene — Quest Giver

Motivation: Keep ford shrine unbloodied.
Secret: Suspects a third framer.
Roleplay: Calm, urgent; rewards proof over body counts.

Atalanta

Motivation: Justice for burned hunt-camp; protect Amazons.
Secret: Will accept truce if Spartan innocence proven.
If opposed: yield conditions only — never execute.

Leonidas

Motivation: Secure march route; avenge murdered runners.
Secret: Respects lawful challenge and kept oaths.
If opposed: yield / aspis break — never execute.

Myrto / Doulos — Scouts

Myrto: Amazon boots on “Spartan” messenger.
Doulos: forged wax on orders.
Both recruited → free Enc2 proof success.

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