The Hot Gates

One-Shot · 6 PCs Lvl 10 · ~3–3.5 hrs · Thermopylae Hold · Favor of Ares

Style: Same-pass defense → Parley → Favor finale | Win: Favor 6 + plant Enyalian Spearhead → Ares slaughters horde

Allies: Leonidas + Spartans · Recruit: Dienekes · QG: Gorgo’s envoy

"Plant this in the steam-altar when war has seen your worth — then stand aside. Ares does not share kills."

Major Beats

Mist to Hot Gates; join Leonidas’s wall.
Enc. 1: First wave; vents/rockfall; recruit Dienekes.
Enc. 2: Parley with Warlord Kharos (3 before 3).
Enc. 3: Favor deeds → plant spearhead → Ares.

Favor of Ares (Win = 6)

Deed	Favor
Hold Fast (no breach + ≥5 at gate)	+2 / round
Triple Fall (3 downs same round)	+1 (max 2)
One Blow (above half → 0 in one hit)	+1 (need 2)
King’s Witness (finish near Leonidas)	+2 once
Steam Offering (DC 14, bloodied)	+1 / round

Difficulty

Tier	Adjust
As Written ★	6 PCs · APL 10
Library Standard	6 PCs · APL 8 — Dial back: reduce boss HP ~20–25%, cut one legendary action option or recharge breath to 6 only; Favor/track thresholds −1 where present; skill DCs −1.
Easier	APL 8–9: use the Library Standard (6×L8) box, then shave one more minion wave.
Harder	APL 11–12: boss HP +20%; +1 legendary; Favor/track +1 to win.

SHARED MAP — Hot Gates

80×40 · 20-ft choke · sea cliff W · mountain E · altar S · entrance N

Hold the Line: Ath/Intim/Pers DC 14 — choke difficult; no Dash through.
Steam vents (×2): shove → Con DC 13 (2d6 fire + blind).
Rockfall: Ath/Sleight DC 14 · 2/session · entrance cone 4d6.

ENC 1 — First Wave

Medium · 6 Raiders · 3 Brutes · 2 Hunters · 6 Hoplites + Leonidas

Teach choke tools. Early rockfall can end if ≥half down.
Recruit Dienekes: heal or Med DC 13.

ENC 2 — Parley

Social/Medium · Kharos + Pride-Captain · truce mid-pass

3 before 3 social (DC 14). Leonidas: 1 auto-success if honorable delay.
Success: −4 raiders / Favor preview / captain sits / short rest.
Refuse parley: +2 Favor into Enc. 3; no rest; full count.

ENC 3 — Final Hold

Hard · Horde + Favor · endless spawn until god

Plant spearhead at Favor ≥6 → Ares ends horde.
Spawn: if <4 foes at entrance, +2 raiders or +1 brute / round.

STAT BLOCKS

King Leonidas (Ally)

AC 18 | HP 136 | Speed 30

2× Spear +8 · Rally 1/enc · Protect the Line · Iconic (no execute)

Warlord Kharos CR7

AC 17 | HP 136 · LR-style LA

Maul +8 · Command Rush · Earthshatter R5–6 · Banner vs fear

Titan-kin Brute CR2

AC 14 | HP 42

Greataxe +5 · Relentless 1/rest

Titan-kin Raider CR1

AC 13 | HP 22

Scimitar / Shortbow +4

Leonin Pride-Hunter CR2

AC 14 | HP 39 | Speed 35

Claw/Spear · Pounce · Roar R5–6

Leonin Pride-Captain CR4

AC 16 | HP 76

2× Glaive +6 · Pack Tactics · Pride Roar 1/day

Spartan Hoplite CR3

AC 17 | HP 52

2× Spear · Shield Wall

Dienekes (Ally)

AC 17 | HP 71

Recruit Enc. 1 · Hold Line adv · Shade Remark

TOOLS / NPC

Enyalian Spearhead

Plant at altar when Favor ≥6 → call Ares · Early plant +1 Favor once

Pass Hazards

Hold Line · Steam vents · Rockfall ×2 · Altar Offering

Gorgo’s Envoy

Misthaven hook — hold until the war-god answers.

Remember

Same map all fight. Parley matters. Favor > total kill count. Ares is the win button.

Enable Background graphics when printing.