Party travels through twisted landscape. Trees bend, air thickens with strange particles. Two realms coexist. Approach to the Alabaster Mansion.
Penelope rolls 19 (hears faint voice), Anar rolls 12 (hears whisper), Puck rolls 6 (oblivious).
Cold zip up spines. Elra's floating head materializes. "I've got food for you." Vanishes and reappears 15ft away, beckoning.
Anar: "Let's follow the floating head. What could possibly go wrong?" Party agrees. Path through mist opens.
Campsite found — donkey, smoldering fire, staging supplies. Orimene Silentvale sits alone, sole survivor of previous party.
Floating head reappears: "Armin, are you okay? Will they help you?" Identified as Elra. Vanishes urgently.
Scattered papers in tent: Markos's room on 3rd floor (rituals), cavernous room under basement, number "4" circled.
Hired by Gertie: retrieve Codex, bring Markos back alive. 150 gold each (100 if dead). Anar claims 250.
Orimene reveals Elra's map of the mansion and the command word: Krokulmar.
No cellar entrance found. Mansion raised up on uneven foundation. Windows show armor, defaced portraits, hovering candle flames. The mansion breathes.
Orimene speaks the command word. Windows fly open — then begin mutating. Sills grow like flesh, frames warp into mouths.
Puck casts Mage Hand to open front door. Wild surge: air becomes thick as water. Everyone gains flying speed equal to walking speed.
Party flies/swims into the foyer. Owlbear rug, grand staircases, 30ft coffered ceiling, chandelier with hovering candle flames.
Two suits of animated armor activate in the parlor. Puck rolls 18 initiative.
Armor slams Puck — 6 damage, knocked prone. Second armor: 8 damage.
Penelope casts Heat Metal — armor glows red-hot (no creature inside to take damage, but metal softens).
Orimene rolls natural 20 with True Strike — 6 radiant damage. "This is for Elra!"
Anar throws wine at heated armor (cracking), follows with Dreadful Strike for 13 damage.
Penelope wild-shapes into brown bear. Multi-attack (18, 19 to hit) — armor demolished.
Puck casts Dissonant Whispers — armor fails save, forced to flee. Opportunity attack deals 8 damage.
Puck: "You think you're tough now?" 6 psychic damage. Helmet crumples. Combat ends.
Party barricades kitchen door against animated swords and broom. Anar fills wineskins.
Through pantry to wine cellar. Four casks, empty racks, aroma of grapes.
Orimene investigation 23 — finds hidden door behind wine cask. Reveals temple chamber with four purple-cloaked figures.
Elra's head: "Don't step in this room." Party replaces the cask.
Orimene speaks "Krokulmar." Lights drain. Shadow stabs her — 8 damage. Wound resists healing.
Kitchen short rest. Hit dice recovery. Orimene recovers 4 HP. Puck partial recovery. Anar reorganizes wine.
Filling goblets on pedestals near armor pacifies them. DM hint received.
Spiral staircase to 3rd floor. Cold breeze. Through windows: chaos and thick fog.
Hunched cloaked figure reading from a book, muttering in two voices. Anar peers through keyhole.
Puck tries Mage Hand on the book. Wild surge D4: 4 (bad). Wizard dispels it, opens door.
Wizard explains: Markos is in the basement, summoning an eldritch entity with the Codex. Gives password "Farrl Hrak." Begs them not to kill Markos.
Party at the base of the third floor staircase. Armed with intelligence and hard choices ahead.