DM Cheat Sheet

Physical Locations

• Puck, Penelope, Orimene: Standing on three summoning circles in the secret room (behind the deer head/mimic). Circles are lighting up. Arcane energy building.
• Anar: In the dining room, holding the mimic impaled on a curtain rod. Mimic's tongue skewered. Severely pinned. Anar is soaked in his own vomit and wine slime.
• Zala: 3rd floor, room 8C. Meditating/resting. Ritual still active, suppressing wild surges.
• Jeremy (Gibbering Mouther): Eastern guest room, 1st floor. Calmed but contained. Allergic reaction subsiding.

Active Conditions

• All three summoning circles are ACTIVE — candle flames shoot forearm-length when all three occupied.
• Mimic pinned but still dangerous if rope/rod fails.
• Zala's ritual magic STILL ACTIVE — suppressing wild surges.
• Black dust effect wearing off (~1 hour duration; applied ~1:35).

House Rules / Decisions Made

• Ritual Magic Immune to Surges: Zala's ritual magic doesn't trigger wild surges. This is WHY the party only saw 2 surges in Session 1 instead of many. Zala has been suppressing them.
• Guest Room Manifests Desires: The eastern guest room manifests items/situations people strongly want. Anar's desire for alcohol → shelf appears. Party's fear of pollen allergy → pollen manifests.
• Jeremy's Allergy: Gibbering Mouther's allergic reaction triggered gibbering aura (DC 10 Wisdom save, 20 ft range). Solution: stop thinking about the allergen; replace with "the dust is gone."
• Mimic Pinning: Curtain rod skewered mimic's tongue. Anar's Acrobatics 14 + clever use = successful pin. Mimic is immobilized but still dangerous.
• Arcana on Summoning Circles: DC 12 to identify binding circle, DC 14 to recognize full summoning ritual. Puck's 18 = full details of what it can do (pull IN or push OUT something from another plane).
• Standing on Active Circles: Arcane energy visibly builds. All three occupied = massive effect (candle flames forearm-length).

Current Status: Loaned to Puck. Puck is attuned. Each spell usable ONCE per session.

What's Happening Right Now

Three party members standing on active summoning circles. Candle flames blazing. Arcane energy building visibly. One party member holding a mimic on a curtain rod at the kitchen doorway.

Immediate Decisions for Session 3

1. Do the circles activate on their own, or do they require a trigger? (Speech word? An action? Specific sequence?)
2. What does the summoning pull/push? A bound entity? Something from Old Crow's plane? A random incursion?
3. Does Zala sense the activation? Can she provide guidance or warning?
4. How does the mimic factor in? Is it escaping? Dying? Just pinned and waiting?
5. What about the jar wall? Do the tadpole creatures react to the circles?

If Circles Summon Something...

• Bound Elemental: Old ritual to trap and control a powerful being. Still bound? Or broken binding?
• Portal Fragment: Temporary rift to another plane. What comes through? Creatures? Messages?
• Shadow Servants: Old Crow's influence. Connected to the "Krokulmar" name.
• Protective Ward: Circles were meant to KEEP something OUT, not summon it. Activating them strengthens the ward.

If Party Descends to Basement...

• Encounter cultists and/or Markos.
• Find the Great Snake Constellation Map (Zala's objective).
• Potential encounter with mind flayer larvae if the jars break.
• Risk of triggering Old Crow's full manifestation.

Pacing Notes

• Session 2 was heavy on atmosphere and puzzle-solving. Session 3 will likely be combat/action-heavy.
• Zala is exhausted; she won't fight. Party is on its own.
• Anar is the tank, but carrying Orimene and holding a mimic limits his mobility.
• Puck has access to 9 one-use spells from Zala's book — let them shine.