Campaign: Astrodia
DM: Tommy
Date: March 30, 2026 (Session 3)
Arrival at the Acropolis
The party arrived at the Academy of Arcane Arts in late afternoon with a couple hours of sunlight remaining. The campus is massive and bustling — hundreds of students in colored uniforms, a diverse mix of species, mostly early-to-late 20s in age. The party stuck out as obvious non-students.
- Asha rolled a 20 on stealth and hid under a cloak, blending in while everyone was distracted by the group of misfits she was traveling with.
- Lucian was eager to get the chalice appraised and led the group toward the administrative building — about a 20-30 minute walk.
The Academy’s College System
Asha filled the party in on the campus structure. After their first year (black robes), students sort into specialized colleges:
| College | Color | Discipline | Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lorehold | Red | Archaeomancy (history, anthropology, archaeology) | Humanities |
| Prismari | Orange | Elemental Arts (dance, music, performance) | Performing Arts |
| Silverquill | Silver/White | Eloquence (writing, literature, poetry) | Humanities |
| Quandrix | Blue | Numeromancy (math/physics of magic) | Sciences |
| Witherbloom | Green | Essence Studies (biology of magic) | Life Sciences |
The Arcane Reclamation Initiative
The party found the Arcane Reclamation Initiative desk staffed by Ms. Maris. She explained a three-step process: initial assessment (Identify spell), hazard evaluation (curse check), and scholarly review. Everyone had to sign a disclosure form before proceeding.
- Asha tried to sign a fake name but the enchanted pen and paper revealed her true name. She rolled poorly on deception. Fortunately, Ms. Maris didn’t recognize her — but someone in the party noticed (DM sent a private message).
- Tobin, a junior mage apprentice, attempted the Identify spell twice and failed both times. Ms. Maris cast it herself and discovered the chalice has a non-detection spell on it, blocking all divination.
The Offer
Ms. Maris offered 50 gold for the unidentified chalice. The party declined, opting to wait for the non-detection spell to wear off (30 days). However, the signed disclosure means the chalice technically belongs to the Initiative now. The party has 30 days to return it or face a “repo man.”
- Lucian agreed to the plan and said he’d find work in the meantime. The party needs a way to stay in contact with him (nobody has the Sending spell yet).
- As they walked away, Red overheard Tobin whisper to Ms. Maris: “Wasn’t that a chalice? Wasn’t that one of the—” before she cut him off. Red immediately confronted them. Ms. Maris deflected, claiming Tobin was just an eager student. The party saw through her (Insight checks) but couldn’t press further.
The Bow’s End Tavern
The party headed to the Bow’s End Tavern, a cozy establishment with mahogany floors, black leather furniture, and 20-foot ceilings. Bartender is Tulk (“the Bulk”), a full orc who owns the place.
Everyone ordered Dwarven Ales (the menu had fancier options like “Succubus’s Kiss” and “Wyburn’s Death Punch,” but the party kept it simple).
Úlfr’s Drinking Game with Perrin
Úlfr cornered a first-year student named Perrin and challenged him to drinks. Key intel gathered:
- Perrin wants to study medicine at Witherbloom
- He entered the Academy through a standard application process (essay, letters of rec, interview) — Úlfr got bored hearing about it
- He has no knowledge of Dispel Magic — “Give me a week, dude”
- He’s heard of Tobin but doesn’t know him well
Drolta Meets Aurora
Drolta spotted a woman playing lute in the corner — wearing Witherbloom robes. Something felt familiar. Drolta approached and they discovered a mutual connection: Aurora is a born dampier (vampiric lineage from her father, whom she never knew). This is the first time either has met a dampier of the other type (born vs. turned).
Key information from Aurora:
- Professor Valentine is a full vampire and one of the deans of Witherbloom. He’s a sangromancer (receives visions from blood he drinks), has denounced the higher vampires, and serves as Aurora’s mentor.
- Aurora’s mother hid information about her father for safety — minimizing any connection the vampire could use to contact her.
- Aurora confirmed vampire assassins still occasionally target Valentine for defecting.
Aren followed them outside, sensing the dampier presence with her pendant and assuming Drolta was in danger. Tense moment, but Drolta explained the situation and it resolved peacefully. The group exchanged contact info (Aurora can send messages via the Sending spell; the party cannot yet reciprocate).
Aurora also suggested the Biblioplex (campus library) as the best place to find someone who knows Dispel Magic.
Asha’s Intel from Tobin
Tobin arrived at the tavern as promised. After a botched intimidation by Úlfr (who grappled the poor kid after rolling terribly and Tobin tried to flee), Asha smoothed things over and got him talking:
- The chalice matches one of several specific items the Initiative was told to watch for. They’re called “the Something Spoils” (Tobin couldn’t remember the full name).
- It’s the first item matching those descriptions to come through.
- The initiative is aware of one chalice and 3 other types of items on their watch list.
- Only people within the Initiative would know this information.
- Ms. Maris acted weird the rest of the day after the party left.
Asha also recognized Tobin recognized her — he knew about her academic trouble. She tried to deflect with a deception check (failed). Tobin said he should probably keep his distance but shared the info out of gratitude for being rescued from the grapple.
Key Contacts Identified
| Name | Role | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dean Tallenrook | Dean/Mentor | Silverquill | Tobin’s trusted mentor; Asha believes she had a good relationship with her mother |
| Professor Fane | Professor | Silverquill | Badly-kept-secret black market connections; can get things not normally allowed on campus, for a high price |
| Professor Valentine | Dean | Witherbloom | Full vampire, sangromancer, denounced the higher vampires; Aurora’s mentor |
The Night — Úlfr’s Nightmare
The party stayed at the University Inn (5 gold/night). To save money, everyone crammed into one room, resulting in disadvantage on Wisdom saving throws for nighttime effects.
Úlfr and Drolta both failed.
Úlfr’s Dream
He woke up screaming “Kári!” in the middle of the night. When the party stirred, he growled at them and refused to speak. He went back to sleep visibly shaken.
Mechanical effect: Úlfr takes 1 level of Exhaustion (−2 to all d20 rolls for the rest of the day).
Day 2 — The Archway Commons
Walking through the busy campus the next morning, the party encountered Myrna Nor — a young woman standing on an apple box, holding flyers and shouting:
“Justice for Leith Chantos! Justice for Leith Chantos!”
What the Party Knows
- Úlfr recognized the name — Leith Chantos has history connected to the War Rock Mountains (Goliath territory).
- Erin (highest history roll) recalled that Leith Chantos is a well-known criminal figure — somewhere between a Jesse James and a vigilante. Popular belief says he did bad things, but Myrna insists he was trying to protect his family and do the right thing.
- She claims to have a way to clear his name and is willing to pay big gold for adventurers to help.
- She’ll be at the Fire Jolt Café later with posters, trying to recruit.
The party agreed to circle back to her after handling other business.
The Biblioplex (Grand Library)
The party entered the Biblioplex — the grand central library of the Academy. Majestic marble archways, tomes stacked for miles, magical energy everywhere.
Floor Access
- 1st Floor: Open to public and first-years
- 2nd Floor: Restricted to upper-years and professors (permission required)
- 3rd Floor: Prohibited — this is where Asha was caught previously
The Snarl
In the Hall of Oracles, the party found a Snarl — a knotted, tangled essence of pure magic that serves as a power source for the university and affects magic in unpredictable ways. Asha also mentioned the Oracle of the Academy — supposedly the most powerful being at the school, but not exactly approachable.
The Cogwork Archivists
The library is staffed by cogwork archivists — magical constructs that handle bookkeeping and can guide visitors to relevant texts. Leif used one to find medical texts on maladies of the mind (for his sister’s illness). Drolta used one to find texts on vampiric lineages and ancestries.
Combat: The Mimic
A chest attacked Rosimyffenbip, a gnome LARPer who opened it looking for costumes. (Later revealed in Session 6 to be Rosie of the S.A.T.O..) Initiative was rolled and the party engaged.
Post-combat investigation: Red found a black, oily substance on the mimic — clearly not natural. It had been tampered with. Professor Mavinda Sharpbeak (an owlin Silverquill professor) arrived, dismissed it as “leather conditioner,” but the party’s Insight checks confirmed she was hiding something — putting on a front that nothing bad could happen at the school.
Reward: Each party member received 1 platinum piece from Professor Sharpbeak. Possibly a bribe.
The Scavenger Hunt
A grateful Quandrix student shared orientation scavenger hunt clues with the party. Prizes found:
| Item | Found By | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Potion of Healing | Red | Standard healing potion (from touching the Snarl) |
| Flashcards of Colloquialisms | Úlfr | College slang definitions (e.g., “Witherbloom curious = she’s probably trouble”) |
| Cuddly Mascot | Erin | Press to arm/shoulder/leg; grants advantage on saves vs. Frightened for 1 hour |
| Hooded Lantern + Oil | Úlfr (via performance at the Rose Stage) | Standard lantern |
| Academy Pendant | Drolta & Leif | Sheds bright light 10ft, dim light additional 10ft (given to Úlfr since he lacks darkvision) |
Other Library Encounters
- Leif befriended Ersmatok Rostch — an orc Witherbloom student who works at the campus magic labs and is in the Fantastical Horticulture Club. A genuine plant-nerd bond was formed. He can be found on the Witherbloom campus. (Later revealed in Session 6 to be a member of the S.A.T.O..)
- Úlfr talked to Quintilius — a Prismari 2nd-year recruiting for the Play Actors Drama Guild and the Dead Languages Society. Úlfr expressed his preference for oral tradition over written plays: “I have all sorts of stories, and they’re all in here” (pointing to his head). (Later revealed in Session 6 to be a member of the S.A.T.O..)
- Red asked Lorehold apprentices about his dream of 3 orbs (red, blue, purple) and Venus. They identified it as the Agent of Creation, Venus — one of the Hands of the Solemn Pantheon. They showed him a page from a textbook with an image.
- Silverquill apprentices confirmed Dean Tallenrook is “nice and optimistic, goes out of her way to help people” and that Professor Fane is on the Silverquill campus.
- Witherbloom apprentice mentioned Dean Lassette — supposedly the best healer/herbalist, rumored to have once cured a dragon of a secret illness. Also mentioned Professor Lang who does cross-teaching with Quandrix on artificial life forms.
- The party learned about campus jobs (taverns, biblioplex, groundskeeping, magic lab cleanup, stage hands) and the existence of a quest board with professor-sponsored quests tied to thesis research.
- The runic transportation circles at the base of staircases can teleport students to upper floors — but 2nd floor access requires faculty permission.
Loot Acquired This Session
| Item | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Platinum Piece | 1 per person (6 total) | From Professor Sharpbeak after mimic fight |
| Potion of Healing | 1 | Scavenger hunt (Red) |
| Flashcards of Colloquialisms | 1 set | Scavenger hunt (Úlfr) |
| Cuddly Mascot | 1 | Advantage on Frightened saves (Aren) |
| Hooded Lantern + Oil | 1 | Scavenger hunt (Asha) |
| Academy Pendant (light) | 1 | Bright 10ft / Dim 10ft (given to Úlfr) |
| Black Oily Substance Sample | 1 | Taken from tampered mimic |
Party Secrets & Knowledge Tracker
| Secret / Intel | Who Knows |
|---|---|
| Chalice is one of “the Something Spoils” — specific items the Initiative is hunting | Full party (via Asha/Tobin) |
| Ms. Maris is hiding something about the chalice | Full party |
| Asha’s true identity revealed on the enchanted contract | Ms. Maris + possibly one party member (DM private message) |
| Asha was in academic trouble / expelled from Academy | Tobin knows; party knows in general |
| Aurora is a born dampier; Professor Valentine is a full vampire dean | Drolta, Erin (and whoever they told) |
| Drolta is a (turned) dampier | Leif, Erin, Aurora |
| Mimic was tampered with (black oily substance) | Full party |
| Professor Sharpbeak lied about the substance | Full party (Insight checks) |
| Venus = Agent of Creation, one of the Hands of the Solemn Pantheon | Red (shared with party) |
| Úlfr screamed “Kári!” in his sleep | Party heard the scream |
| Leith Chantos — historical figure, Myrna Nor seeking help to clear his name | Full party |
Open Threads
- The Golden Chalice & “The Something Spoils” — The chalice is one of several specific items the Academy is hunting. What are the others? Why? The non-detection spell wears off in ~30 days. The “repo man” comes after that.
- Ms. Maris & Professor Sharpbeak — Both are hiding something. The Initiative knows more about the chalice than they’re letting on. Sharpbeak lied about the tampered mimic.
- The Tampered Mimic — Who put the black oily substance on it? Why was a mimic active in the library? Is this connected to something larger on campus?
- Venus & the Solemn Pantheon — Red’s dream orbs identified as connected to Venus, Agent of Creation. How does this connect to Asha’s mother’s notebook?
- Leith Chantos Quest — Myrna Nor at the Fire Jolt Café has a paying job to clear a historical figure’s name. Party plans to follow up.
- Dean Tallenrook — Possible ally via Asha’s mother’s connection. On the Silverquill campus (not the main campus).
- Professor Fane — Black market professor at Silverquill. Could help fence the chalice or get it appraised off-books.
- Professor Valentine — Vampire dean at Witherbloom. Aurora’s mentor. Potential ally for Drolta/Erin’s vampiric research.
- Dean Lassette — Witherbloom’s top healer. Possibly relevant to Leif’s sister’s illness.
- Úlfr’s Voice — “Don’t run from your destiny.” Spoken in Giant during his nightmare. Origin unknown.
- Asha’s Identity — Her true name is on the Initiative’s contract. How long before someone connects the dots?
- Drolta’s Vampirism — Still a partial secret. Aurora knows now. How long before the wider party/campus finds out?
- Communication Problem — The party has no Sending spell. Need to find a way to stay in contact with Lucian and Aurora.
Next Session
The party is still at the Biblioplex. Planned next steps include visiting the Fire Jolt Café to meet Myrna Nor about the Leith Chantos case, potentially heading to the Silverquill campus to find Dean Tallenrook or Professor Fane, and continuing to explore the Academy for work, allies, and answers about the chalice.