Avaliação (DmYan Framework)
[The Garden of Helios] - Score: 4/10
WHAT WORKS:
- Tema do covil/monstro é claro (nome dá direção).
- Algumas descrições visuais do livro dão cor inicial.
WHAT FAILS:
- Bloco de preparação genérico não preenchido; faltam ganchos, relógios e encontros específicos.
- Mistura EN/PT e resíduos de referência de livro prejudicam fluidez.
- Sem layout/táticas/tesouros amarrados ao tema; risco genérico.
BRUTAL TRUTH:
- Recorte do livro com checklist genérico; não está pronto para mesa paga.
FIX IT:
- Preencher ganchos com objetivos e recompensas específicas deste local (não genéricas).
- Escrever relógio de resposta + 2-3 encontros nomeados com risco/benefício claros.
- Revisar linguagem para PT-BR fluido e remover metatexto do livro/regras genéricas.
- Desenhar 3-4 zonas/salas com hazards, pistas e loot temático; táticas do chefe e rotas de fuga.
The Garden of Helios
Fonte: 09 Chapter 6- The Forgotten Sea.md — seção “The Garden of Helios”
The island ahead is completely shrouded in fog. When you sail close enough to properly see through this haze, you find that rocky cliffs have formed a natural plateau, elevating the island’s landscape far above the water. You can see shrubs and other plants spilling over the top of the cliffs, and you hear the strange, trumpeting calls of exotic beasts from farther inland.
This island is surrounded by enormous cliffs and perpetually surrounded by clouds and mist. There are a couple of anchorages, but anyone landing faces a long climb up to the island’s plateau-like top.
Most of the island consists of shrubs and grasslands, but there is a sizeable forest in the center. A cyclops clan has lived here for many centuries, and around 100 of the giants still live on the island. There are 80 male and female adults with 20 young (use ogre statistics for the young cyclopes). The cyclopes spend their lives raising large herds of elephants as cattle.
The Sun God
The island is ruled by a radiant, golden-haired man named Helios (NE polymorphed Adult Gold Dragon), hence its name. He claims to be the sun god who was once revered by all the mortal and giant races of Thylea, long before the coming of the Dragonlords.
False God
It’s true that Helios was once revered as a sun god, but he never possessed any true divine power. He is merely a dragon who masquerades as a god by dazzling his worshippers with his polymorphed form.
Helios came here as a wyrmling 600 years ago, blown off course while flying between continents. He makes infrequent visits to mainland Thylea, mostly to check on various ancient shrines that were constructed to honor him, centuries ago. He is still revered by many small tribes of native creatures, including cyclopes, nymphs, centaurs, and satyrs.
Paranoid Dragon
Helios is suspicious of anyone who comes to his island. Sydon warned him long ago that Thyleans would send heroes to kill and flay him for his beautiful golden skin. There is, indeed, an almost forgotten legend that the skin of “the Sun God”grants immortality to any who wear it, and one of the Ultros’ crew will mention it if Helios is discussed when the heroes are aboard.
In spite of his understandably suspicious nature, Helios is always pleased by the prospect of visitors. The company of cyclopes leaves much to be desired as they are crude, often violent folk. Helios also seeks knowledge about current events in Thylea. He will not reveal his dragon form to visitors until he has decided whether or not to devour them, or they directly attack him. The heroes will be on the menu if he decides they represent a threat to his domain, or to Sydon.
The Cyclops Army
Centuries ago, Helios swore an @reward[Oath of Service|ArcanumWorldsOdysseyoftheDragonlords|oath of service] to Sydon in order to protect his island. He has been training his cyclopes to wear armor and to wield mauls, in preparation for the Titan’s forthcoming battle against the mortals of Thylea. However, Helios cares for his cyclopes as if they were his children, and he dislikes the idea of sending them to war.
Cyclopean Ruins. The cyclopes live in ancient stone buildings that were built by the gygans a thousand years ago. The buildings are now partial ruins, as the cyclopes have not taken care of them. The creatures live simple, but contented, lives tending to their herds and competing in games of strength.
When he’s not training the cyclopes, Helios spends his time on a small island just off the coast of the main island. It is forested and rather beautiful. He lives in a shallow lake at the center.
Armored Cyclopes
Each adult cyclops on the island has AC 16. Their multiattack action allows them to make two maul attacks.
Maul: Melee Weapon Attack: r 1d20+9{+9} to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 29 (damage 6d6 + 6 type=bludgeoning) damage.
Helios the Sun God
“Indeed, I have heard tales of the ancient sun god, Helios. He is said to be radiant with gold, blinding to look upon. But surely he cannot be as handsome as myself.”
— Pythor, God of Battle
The Invitation
Helios sends a band of six cyclopes to greet visitors and bring them into his presence. The cyclopes are quite stupid, but they have been ordered to be gracious and accommodating with guests. They speak of their master with open reverence and invite the heroes to a feast:
“Great Sun God Helios welcome you to island. He send warm greetings and invite you to feast! Thanks be to Great Sun God. He is kind and generous master!”
The Feast
Helios awaits the party on the small island where he makes his home. He takes his polymorphed form and uses the full effect of his charm, his beauty, and his radiant golden jewelry to give the impression of a gracious and generous “Sun God.”
You arrive at the prepared feast, set on a pristine sandy beach that borders a crystal-clear pool at the center of the small island. An elderly cyclops with a milky white eye sets out plates of enormous cuts of roasted meat on the ornate dining table before you. Your host stands at the opposite end of the table.
Helios is an incredibly handsome man, made more splendid by radiant jewelry and skin that nearly glows with divine vigor. Sunlight glints from his golden hair, which matches the burnished color of his eyes.
As the feast begins, Helios dismisses his guards, leaving only Tolyphemus, an elderly and blind Cyclops, to serve the main dish of elephant meat. Tolyphemus serves as the sun god’s chef and steward. He dislikes mortals—human sailors blinded him years ago.
Helios politely converses with the heroes for a little while. He asks about their heroic exploits and appears duly impressed if they describe their deeds.
Epic Path: The Dragonslayer
Helios has long anticipated the arrival of the Dragonslayer. He was told by the Fates that someone from their family or village would one day kill him. Consequently, he rained fire down upon their village, but he could never confirm whether the Dragonslayer survived. Now, he hopes to rectify his past failure. Refer to the Running the Epic Paths section for details.
Battling Helios
Eventually, Helios grows bored with the heroes (particularly if they are boastful and arrogant) and decides that they are to become the next course in his meal.
Helios sighs heavily and stretches his arms.
“You seemed like such interesting guests, but this party has grown dreadfully tedious. Fortunately, such accomplished heroes as yourselves should make for a truly delectable dessert.”
As he speaks, Helios begins to transform. Claws grow from his hands, and his teeth multiply, spreading into a broad, draconic grin. He towers over you now, a massive dragon with lustrous golden scales.
Anger of the Furies
Since Helios has broken the law of guest friendship by deciding to eat the heroes, he is subject to the @reward[curse of the treacherous|ArcanumWorldsOdysseyoftheDragonlords]. If the battle starts to go very badly for the heroes, you can choose to have an Erinyes show up to try and capture Helios. The erinyes will fly out of the sky and begin to rain arrows down upon the gold dragon. If this happens, read the following:
A piercing scream from the sky interrupts the battle. A woman dressed in heavy black armor, borne aloft by a pair of red feathered wings, swoops towards Helios. Her face is contorted in unbridled rage as she strikes at the dragon with her longsword!
When Helios is reduced to 50 hit points or less, he transforms back into his human form and begs for forgiveness. The erinyes will ignore his pleas and use her rope of entanglement to restrain him. She will then teleport away with Helios to the Island of Oathbreakers in the Nether Sea (N5). If the heroes haven’t visited the Island of Oathbreakers, you might want to make a note that Helios is imprisoned there for when they do visit.
Treasure of the Sun God
Helios’s lair contains a massive hoard of 40,000 gp in coins and precious jewels. The pride and joy of his hoard is a beautiful golden chariot of dawn. Helios once used this chariot to fly around Thylea, inspiring awe in the primitive mortals who lived on the continent before the coming of the Dragonlords. This was the origin of his claim to be the Sun God.
Epic Path: The Gifted One
The Gifted One discovers the instant fortress in this treasure hoard. This is the Fortress of the Dragonlords. Refer to the Running the Epic Paths section for details.
“There is only one power in Thylea that I fear more than the Lady of Dreams: the Furies. Megaera and her sisters are not to be trifled with. Those who disrespect the laws of Thylea soon learn this.”
— Chondrus, Priest of Lutheria
Gancho e Objetivo
- Por que ir a este covil? Defina 1-2 motivações fortes (resgatar alguém, roubar algo único, forjar aliança ou destruir a ameaça central de The Garden of Helios).
- Estabeleça objetivo claro de saída (conquistar, escapar, negociar) e custo do fracasso.
Clima e Sensações
- Traga 3 sentidos em cena (som, cheiro, textura) que diferenciem este covil; repita-os para manter a identidade do lugar.
- Mostre sinais de poder local (patrulhas, rituais, marcas no terreno) antes do confronto principal.
Perigos e Relógios
- Crie um relógio de 4 partes: patrulha chega / terreno piora / líder reage / colapso ou contra-ataque.
- Liste 2-3 perigos ambientais específicos de The Garden of Helios (armadilhas naturais, terreno difícil, clima, magia latente).
Pistas e Agência
- Entregue 3 pistas que apontem rotas alternativas (atalho, aliado possível, fraqueza do chefe). Nenhuma pista deve ser única.
- Permita escolhas: infiltração, diplomacia, barganha ou ataque frontal devem ter consequências claras.
Encontros e Táticas
- Escreva 2 encontros menores que revelem o tom do lugar antes do clímax; varie interação social/combate/exploração.
- Para o chefe ou força dominante, defina táticas de abertura, reação a fuga/rendição e o que acontece se forem enganados.
Recompensas e Consequências
- Vincule recompensas a objetivos (informação rara, bênção, recurso logístico) e não só a tesouro genérico.
- Anote como o mundo reage ao resultado (facções locais, deuses, rivais) para manter continuidade.
Preparação Rápida
- Mapas/zonas essenciais (entrada, coração do local, rota de fuga) em 3 camadas.
- Nomes e vozes de 3 NPCs-chave; 3 detalhes visuais prontos para improviso; 1 rumor verdadeiro e 1 falso.