Temple of the Oracle • Odyssey of the Dragonlords

1 Square = 5 Feet#

O8: The Oracle’s Chamber#

At the entrance to this chamber, a beautiful woman in golden raiment is stretched out above the underground river, held captive by tendrils of animated water. In the chamber behind her, a hideous, blue-skinned woman cackles as she plunges a knife into a terrified acolyte.

Versi is furious with Heleka for slaughtering her temple attendants, who were like children to her. She would kill the

Sea Hag if she could, but she has been restrained in her resting chamber by a
Water Weird. The water weird is completely fixated on holding the Oracle, and it will not retaliate when attacked. Once Heleka has finished tormenting Versi, she plans to drag the Oracle into the depths of the cave and search for an exit to the ocean. Treasure. Heleka carries a single pearl worth

100 GP. She also has a note that reads:

Heleka …

I bid you now make good upon the Oath of Service that once you swore me. You know the secret ways through the Forgotten Sea to the cave where my daughter dwells. Find her and bring her to Praxys unharmed, and I will release you from your oath.

—Sydon, Lord of All

The Oracle’s Belongings. In addition to what can be found on Heleka, many of the gifts that the Oracle has received over the years are found here. These include: five black pearl gems worth 500 GP each, three emerald gems worth 1,000 GP each, and six fine brooches worth 750 GP each. Versi knows if any of her gifts are taken and will brand the thief as cursed by the gods. The curse’s effects are that of the Curse of the Graverobber, but it can be lifted by a Greater Restoration spell or by returning the stolen treasure and begging for the Oracle’s forgiveness.

The Oracle’s Prophecy#

Once the Oracle has been rescued from the sea hag, she thanks the heroes and introduces herself. She foresaw the coming of great warriors who would save Thylea in her hour of need. Now, Versi delivers the full prophecy to those in attendance:

The Oracle inhales the vaporous fumes that surround her. She stares into each of your eyes, probing your souls with a penetrating gaze. Some time passes before she speaks. “You warriors who stand here gathered will be tested. The Fates have revealed three great tasks that must be

accomplished before you are ready to sail into the three seas and face the Titans.” “You must shape the silver fires of the lost forge in order to craft the tools that you will need. You must claim the mighty weapons wielded against the Titans by the first Dragonlord. And you must drink deep from the bottomless dragon horn, for it will reveal a vision that even I cannot see.” “But woe unto thee, for I have seen the end of all things. My father’s anger cannot be quelled, and his sister schemes even now. Your quest may yet fail and, if it should, the sky will rain black fire, and the doom of Thylea will come.”

With the Oracle’s full prophecy delivered, it’s time for the party to undertake three great tasks. But first, she will speak with each hero, revealing specific information about each of their epic backgrounds.

The Oracle’s Visions#

Versi has valuable information for heroes using every epic background. This is an important opportunity to recognize the backstory and motivations of every epic background in the party. Don’t miss this chance to make your players feel special.

Versi’s silver gaze lingers on you as the others begin to step away. “You. Stay.” With a gesture, she draws you deeper into the cavern, where the steam curls like the breath of sleeping gods. The light dims, and the sound of the river fades to a heartbeat’s hush. “You’ve returned to me … after so long. Five centuries I kept you here. Not with chains, but with love. You were mine before fate stole you away.” She inhales deeply, as if trying to taste the time you have spent apart. “You swore to return to me when your quest is done. I remember every word. So do the Fates.” “Listen, beloved—because I would not give this to anyone else. Your armor … your crown … the legacy of who you were lies buried in the Necropolis of Telamok, entombed with Xander. You will need them in the trials to come.”

After these last words, Versi will allow the Vanished One to return to their companions.

Versi’s turns to you. “You’ve always wondered, haven’t you? Why everything came so easily. Why envy followed you like a shadow.” Her eyes—ancient and endless—search yours. “It is not just talent. It is blood. Divine blood. Your grandmother was a sorceress of immense power—wise, fierce, and unyielding. But Sydon feared her. So he killed her. But her legacy found its way into you.” From beneath the folds of her robes, Versi produces a delicate locket. “This belonged to her. Keep it close, and remember: your gifts are not a mistake.”

Other Epic Backgrounds. Versi then turns to the remaining heroes and addresses each one in turn.
Cursed One. Versi tells the Cursed One that they must speak with Damon, the ancient lich who guards the Necropolis at Telamok, to learn more about the nature of their curse. Dragonslayer. Versi tells the Dragonslayer that they are destined to become the bane of evil dragons. They must seek out the Forgekeeper in the Mithral Mines to learn more about the artifacts they need. Lost One. Versi believes that the Lost One will find a way home, but first they must find the lost treasure of the Dragonlords. Perhaps ancient allies like King Pythor would know about it. Haunted One. Versi tells the Haunted One that her corrupted sister, Demetria, possesses one of the Haunted One’s lost family artifacts. Demetria can be found in the Mossy Temple in the Oldwoods. Doomed One. Versi’s corrupted sister, Demetria, knows more about the fate that has been laid upon the Doomed One. Versi explains that Demetria can be found in the Mossy Temple in the Oldwoods. Demigod. Versi expects great things from the Demigod. She encourages them to travel to Estoria and meet their father, Pythor.

The Great Labors#

The heroes have rescued the Oracle from the clutches of a hag and cemented their place as the subjects of her prophecy. Now, it seems that the party must perform three mighty tasks in order to prepare themselves for a confrontation with the Titans, Sydon and Lutheria.

Both Proteus and Kyrah are capable of interpreting the Oracle’s vision. Proteus has extensive knowledge of Thylea’s geography and culture, but he believes that these tasks may truly be impossible. Kyrah is more likely to prod the party into action—she’s eager for an exciting story to inspire her poetry.

First Labor: Claim the Weapons of the First Dragonlord#

The first Dragonlord was Xander Huorath, their leader. His weapons were forged at the Mithral Forge by the god Volkan, and all were capable of wounding the Titans and those descended from them. These are located in Telamok, a necropolis in the Mithral Mountains. The tombs were built to house the remains of the Dragonlords who came to Thylea five centuries ago. No one ever goes there now, as it’s guarded by an undead gatekeeper known as Damon, who must be paid with a special kind of coin before he will allow anyone entrance. Proteus gives the heroes one Burnished Dragonlord Coin (appendix C) and tells them to keep it safe.

Second Labor: Light the Fires of the Mithral Forge#

Third Labor: Drink From the Horn of Balmytria#

If the heroes ask about the “three seas” Kyrah will explain that it almost certainly refers to the Cerulean Gulf, the Forgotten Sea, and the legendary Nether Sea.

Leaving the Temple#

Kyrah volunteers to serve as a guide and traveling companion. She won’t take no for an answer. She recommends the party travels to Estoria, because the Horn of Balmytria (appendix C) should be there, on display at the Dragon Shrine (area E7 in Estoria). She also gives the heroes the golden arrows that she promised as a reward.

Parting Gifts#

Before the party leaves the temple, Proteus intercepts the heroes and thanks them for saving Versi from the clutches of the sea hag. He is skeptical that any of these so-called ‘Great Labors’ may be accomplished by mortals, but he believes that Thylea desperately needs heroes who are willing to try. He gives each of the heroes one Potion of Healing and takes his leave of the party with encouraging words:

“The future of Thylea may be bleak, but there is always hope. The people of this land will look to your actions as a sign of things to come. Make yourselves a beacon of light as we enter this time of darkness, and go with the blessing of this temple.”

Kyrah’s Advice: Winning Fame#

After Proteus has departed, Kyrah offers the heroes another take on the tasks ahead.

“Listen to me. This is your chance to win fame beyond your wildest dreams. You want fame, right? Of course you do. All great heroes want fame. Fame is the path to immortality.” “These ‘Great Labors’ are only the beginning. The path ahead of you will be filled with opportunities for winning fame. If you truly manage to rise to your fate and confront the Titans, then poets will sing of your deeds for ages to come.”

This is a good time to introduce the concept of Glory to your players. Each time the heroes complete a quest or perform a great deed, they earn Glory. As the party’s Glory increases, they unlock perks. See the Boasts table in appendix F for details. Kyrah also signals that she will be following the heroes and watching over them, with the intention of composing an epic poem about their exploits.

Epic Poetry Battle#

If the party already has a bard who wishes to serve as an epic poet, then Kyrah offers them a challenge: the two of them will compose separate epics, and when the quest is done, they will each read their poem aloud at the Theater of the Gods in Mytros to see which version of the story gets the most applause.

The Oath of Fellowship#

Finally, Kyrah offers one last suggestion before the party continues onward.

“There is one tiny problem, though. The tricky thing about fame is, if you’re not careful, one hero might outshine all the others. Then all the stories will be about that one hero and how strong and valiant they are—and all the rest of you will be yesterday’s news.” “So … I encourage you to swear an Oath of Fellowship . This is a sacred oath that will bind you together in the spirit of solidarity. When one of you wins fame, all of you will share it.”

If the heroes elect to swear the oath, then your players should each read the following aloud:

“I am [name], and I swear upon my life and my honor that I will uphold the Oath of Fellowship with the warriors who stand at my side.”

As they swear the oath, the heroes should toast with a round of wine. You may choose to re-enact this ritual at the table for extra dramatic effect.

Full-page art, p.37 — Full-page art — p.37

Handouts Give your players these handouts from appendix N: Eastern Heartlands and Western Heartlands.