Where You Are

Puck & Anar

Markos's Domain — underground, two dome caves joined by a 12ft stone archway. Shackled. Escorted down by two acolyte/guards on the Grand Priest's orders (the Grand Priest himself remained in the ritual room above). Markos is present, reading the Codex. The same two guards are in the chamber.

Penelope & Orimene

Vestry, Basement Level — adjacent to the ritual room. Penelope is wild shaped as a brown bear, barricading the door (DC 21 to push through). Spike Growth is active in the ritual room outside.

Loot Acquired This Session

ItemHolderNotes
The Demon BookAnar (backpack)Deep Speech tome from the spell room lectern. Roped shut. Leather cover unlike any known beast. Handle with care.
Spell Scroll: Mage HandPuckFrom the spell room. Must be on class spell list to use (per 2024 rules). Ritual-safe — will not trigger wild surges.
Deep Speech Notes (12 sheets)PuckRitual research notes from around the lectern. Unread. Language unknown to all party members.
Spell ComponentsAllL1/L2 components from the spell room table. Enough for 4 long rests per character. No material component costs for L1/L2 spells for that duration.
Adelaide Family Signet RingOrimeneFound inside the mimic's stomach. Bears the Adelaide family emblem (same design as the iron gate on the property). Origin and significance unknown.
5gpOrimeneAlso from the mimic dissection.
Silverware (~12–13sp value)PartyRecovered from the dining room china cabinet. Ornate; no magical properties.
Cultist PamphletsPuck / AnarHanded out by the cultist when they entered as "Steve." Contents not yet examined.
Cultist RobePuckPuck wears his over leather armor. Anar declined to disrobe and went with Disguise Self instead.

Resources Used This Session

CharacterResourceDetails
PuckBardic Inspiration (last die)Given to Anar. "My Lord, help me get my friends out." Spent to close the book.
PuckZala's Spellbook — SuggestionOne use consumed. Cast on the Grand Priest of Krokulmar. 8 charges remaining (Arcane Lock, Detect Magic, Detect Thoughts, Knock, Mage Armor, Magic Missile, Phantasmal Force, Shield).
PuckCommand (spell slot)Cast on Markos ("Drop"). No effect.
AnarDisguise Self (Gloom Stalker)Cast in lieu of putting on a cultist robe. Not a spell slot — a Gloom Stalker feature. Status unknown at session end.
PenelopeMessage (cantrip)Used to imitate Markos and mislead the Grand Priest.
PenelopeSpike Growth (spell slot)Active in the ritual room. 20ft radius centered on the statue.
PenelopeWild Shape (use)Active — currently a brown bear barricading the vestry door.
OrimeneThaumaturgy (cantrip)Used for booming voice ventriloquism in the ritual room. ~3 min confusion effect.

NPCs Encountered

Grand Priest of Krokulmar

Hierophant

CR 10 cultist leader. Never stopped chanting during the ritual. Identified himself by title when Anar pickpocketed him (3 static damage on contact). Cast Mass Suggestion ("grovel") on Puck and Anar. Failed a Suggestion save (rolled 13). Acting on that compulsion, he directed two acolyte/guards to shackle Puck and Anar and lead them downstairs to Markos. The Grand Priest himself remained in the ritual room.

Markos Delphi — First Sighting

Primary Target

Seen for the first time this session. Located in the underground dome caves, reading from the Codex. Appearance: regalia headpiece, sunken thousand-yard stare, speaking Deep Speech. Tentacles are visibly growing from him as he chants. Puck's Command ("Drop") turned Markos's head Exorcist-style — then had no further effect. He resumed reading.

The Headless Armor

Unknown

A figure in full plate armor kneeling at the center of the large magic circle in Markos's domain. Holding a greatsword across its lap. Dry-ice tendrils pour from the open neck hole. Identity and allegiance unknown. It did not react to the party's arrival.

Winston

Ghost Butler

Appeared twice. Once when Penelope clapped for help during the bubble trap — could not read Deep Speech, faded. Once with a tray of ghost tea nobody could hold. He appeared disappointed by the oversight and vanished without further comment.

Locations

LocationStatusNotes
The Spell Room (First floor, behind dining room plaque)ClearedCircles deactivated. Book closed and removed. Looted. Mimic dead.
Dining Room / KitchenClearedSilverware taken. Mimic dissected. Anar's wine supply replenished.
Ritual Room (Basement)ActiveThree mandatory chanters inside Spike Growth. Several cultists upstairs confused. Grand Priest still here (he sent the guards down with Puck and Anar but remained behind).
Autopsy Room (Basement, side door)UnexaminedBody parts, limb pile, jars of preserved heads including Elra's. Door closed. Contents not searched.
Vestry (Basement)OccupiedPenelope (bear) barricading the door. Orimene present. Four large linen chests, makeshift guard posts.
Markos's Domain (Underground)ActiveTwo dome caves, 12ft archway. Large magic circle. Headless armor. Four Far Realm crystals. Markos reading Codex. Two guards. Puck and Anar shackled here at session end.

Mechanics to Remember

Spell Scroll: Mage Hand

Per 2024 rules, using a spell scroll requires the spell to be on your class's spell list. Mage Hand is on the Bard list — Puck can use it. It also counts as ritual magic and is safe from wild surge triggers per Zala's earlier ruling.

Zala's Spellbook — Suggestion Used

One charge of Suggestion was consumed this session (on the Grand Priest). 8 charges remain. Each spell can only be used once before Zala needs to reattune.

Wild Magic Surge — Orimene

Orimene's surge this session was triggered by emotional shock (seeing Elra's head), not by casting a spell. The DM applied this as tied to her existing wild magic condition. D100 = 42 = Inflict Wounds on self = 3 damage.

Aging — Puck, Penelope, Orimene

All three aged ~10 years from the magic circle trap. Anar did not. Puck's boots degraded to high-tops; Puck recovered them and is wearing them (Penelope offered to mend them when they get out). No other mechanical effects stated beyond the visible aging.

Outstanding Objectives