The Helm of Odysseus

Homer tells us: “Μηριόνης δ’ Ὀδυσῆϊ δίδου βιὸν ἠδὲ φαρέτρην
καὶ ξίφος, ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ κυνέην κεφαλῆφιν ἔθηκε
ῥινοῦ ποιητήν: πολέσιν δ’ ἔντοσθεν ἱμᾶσιν
ἐντέτατο στερεῶς: ἔκτοσθε δὲ λευκοὶ ὀδόντες
ἀργιόδοντος ὑὸς θαμέες ἔχον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα

εὖ καὶ ἐπισταμένως: μέσσῃ δ’ ἐνὶ πῖλος ἀρήρει.”

— Homer, Iliad 10.260–5

Which translates to: “Meriones gave Odysseus a bow, a quiver and a sword, and put a cleverly made leather helmet on his head. On the inside there was a strong lining on interwoven straps, onto which a felt cap had been sewn in. The outside was cleverly adorned all around with rows of white tusks from a shiny-toothed boar, the tusks running in alternate directions in each row.”

This magnificent helmet, worn by Odysseus during the Trojan War, has not been seen since the Heroic Age. But now, it has been found! Or at least, that’s the plan of three grifters from Athens. Things go as planned until these scammers cross paths with some unusual birds and lame centaur. Soon, the PCs are involved and the nefarious plot starts to unravel. Will the PCs save the centaur’s avian friends, or will the criminals succeed in silencing the interlopers?

Written by Beth Jones for 5e. Coming soon to DriveThru!

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