DM-only document. Contains spoiler-level NPC information, unresolved plot hooks, and prep notes not intended for players.

State of Play at Session End

Party Positions

CharacterLocationConditionNotes
Puck Ever-HardLower Domain — Markos's cavesShackledAged 10 years; recovered his boots from the circle (aged down to high-tops, currently wearing them); Command on Markos failed
Anar the WoodsmanLower Domain — Markos's cavesShackled−3 HP from static contact (pickpocket); carrying demon book; did not age
PenelopeVestry doorwayBrown bear form, holding doorAged 10 years; Spike Growth active on statue (20ft radius); Str check result 21 = DC 21; session ended mid-hold
Orimene SilentvaleVestry−3 HP (Inflict Wounds, self)Aged 10 years (was ~23, now ~33); failed Con save on Nat 1 after seeing Elra's head; wild surge resolved

Other Actors

EntityLocationStatus
MarkosLower Domain — archway between cavesReading the Codex aloud in Deep Speech; tentacles growing with each phrase; did not respond to Command; head rotated full-circle when addressed
Grand Priest of KrokulmarRitual roomUnder active Suggestion; directed two acolyte/guards to lead Puck and Anar downstairs in shackles; he himself remained behind in the ritual room
Cultists (ritual room)Ritual room3 mandatory chanters remain; others drifted upstairs via Thaumaturgy confusion (3-minute window, may have expired)
Cultists (upper floor)Upper floorConfused, may be resettling; Penelope and Orimene are not yet found
Headless armorLower Domain — magic circleFull plate, kneeling, greatsword on lap, dry-ice tendrils from neck hole; nature and intent unknown
2 guards (acolytes)Lower DomainActed on the Grand Priest's directive — escorted Puck and Anar downstairs in shackles to Markos's domain
Puck's bootsOn Puck's feetRecovered from the circle; aged down to high-tops; Puck is wearing them

Open Story Hooks

Unresolved

Elra's Head

The side room off the ritual space holds body parts in a green-flame pot, a limb pile, and shelved preserved heads in jars. Orimene found Elra's head there. It turned and looked at her. Nobody else has seen it. Penelope does not know yet.

Unresolved

The Demon Book

Anar roped and packed the closed book. The cover material is not any known beast — "not deer, not cow, not anything." The book is in Anar's pack in Markos's domain. Anar wanted to burn it. That option is not currently available.

Unresolved

Markos and the Codex

Markos is reading the Codex aloud in Deep Speech. Tentacles are visibly growing from him with each phrase. No mechanism for stopping him has worked — Command ("Drop") was ignored. Unknown what happens when he finishes reading.

Unresolved

The Headless Armor

Full plate, kneeling inside a magic circle, greatsword across its lap, dry-ice tendrils rising from the neck hole. Nothing is known about what it is, who it was, or what it's doing there.

Unresolved

The Four Crystals

Four crystals in Markos's domain each contain glimpses of the Far Realm. Nobody has touched or examined them. Their function and relationship to the ritual is unknown.

Unresolved

Puck's Boots

The boots walked to the center of the bubble circle on their own and aged. Puck recovered them and is wearing them — they are now high-tops. Whether they retain unknown residual properties from the ritual is open.

Unresolved

Aging Effect

Puck, Penelope, and Orimene each aged approximately ten years from standing in the circles. Whether this effect is permanent, reversible, or cumulative is not established.

Unresolved

Zala's Spellbook

Puck used Suggestion from Zala's spellbook this session. The book has not been fully inventoried. Its origin and whether anyone is looking for it remain open.

NPC Status

NPCAffiliationStatusLast Known Position
MarkosCult of KrokulmarHostile / Ritual in progressArchway, lower domain
Grand Priest of KrokulmarCult of KrokulmarUnder Suggestion (Puck)Ritual room (remained behind after directing the guards)
ElraUnknown — victimDead; head preserved in jarSide room, ritual level
Cultists (~ritual room)Cult of Krokulmar3 chanters active; others confusedRitual room and upper floor
Headless armorUnknownKneeling, passiveMagic circle, lower domain
2 guards (acolytes)Cult of KrokulmarActive — escorted prisoners on Grand Priest's ordersLower domain (with Puck and Anar)
MimicNoneDead (Anar)Upper floor, kitchen area

Mechanics Established This Session

The Bubble Circles

Standing inside a bubble circle causes aging — approximately ten years per exposure. Closing the demon book stops the bubbles. Passing through the membrane requires a contested Strength check. Items left in the circle continue aging independently.

Fey Ancestry (Anar)

Anar has Fey Ancestry as a racial trait. Used it this session to reroll a failed save against Mass Suggestion with advantage. Succeeded on reroll.

Wild Magic Surge (Orimene)

Wild magic surge triggered by emotional shock, not a spell — the DM ruled the existing wild magic condition responds to trauma. D100 = 42 → Inflict Wounds on self. Precedent established for non-spell surge triggers.

Suggestion from Zala's Spellbook

Puck cast Suggestion from a looted spellbook. Spell worked normally. The priest failed on a 13. The specific wording of the Suggestion is now a binding compulsion the priest is operating under.

Static Damage (Priest Contact)

Anar took 3 points of static damage from contact with the Grand Priest during the pickpocket. The priest appears to carry a passive charge of some kind — nature unexplained.

Krokulmar's Influence on Markos

Markos is reading the Codex aloud in Deep Speech and growing tentacles visibly with each phrase. Command had no effect. He responded to being addressed only by rotating his head. Suggest treating him as incapacitated for normal interaction purposes.

Next Session Setup

Immediate Situation

The party is split. Puck and Anar are shackled in the lower domain with Markos, the priest, the headless armor, two guards, and four Far Realm crystals. Penelope is holding a door in bear form on a contested Strength check. Orimene is in the vestry with her, injured and having just discovered Elra's head.

The session ended mid-action. Penelope's Strength hold needs resolution first. Three mandatory chanters are in the ritual room between the vestry and the staircase. The Thaumaturgy confusion window (three minutes) may have closed.

The Priest's Compulsion

The Suggestion wording: "Take me and my friend to Marcos and leave everybody else here, not chanting. Tell them it's done." The priest has delivered Puck and Anar. The second clause — "leave everybody else here, not chanting" and "tell them it's done" — may or may not have been executed. Track whether the priest follows through on that second part when play resumes.

Key Questions for Next Session

Resource Tracking

CharacterResourceUsedStatus
PuckBardic Inspiration (all)All dice given to AnarExpended
PuckSuggestion (Zala's spellbook)1 castSpell slot used
PuckCommand1 cast (failed on Markos)Spell slot used
PenelopeSpike GrowthActive on statueStill active at session end
PenelopeWild ShapeIn brown bear form at session endActive
OrimeneThaumaturgy1 use (booming voice)Cantrip — no cost
AnarRope (demon book)Used to secure bookIn pack