The Aftermath & The Undercroft

⏱️ Key Events (Timeline)

• Victory & Departure: Following the defeat of the Lord of the Feasts, Theodore Marshall (Silver Order) claims the Cathedral victory for St. Vitruvio. He outlines a plan to use the Phylactery to revive the dragon Argonath and purge the haze.
• Marshall’s Ultimatum: Marshall and his knights depart to gather High Keeper Ophelia and a host, instructing the party to hold the Cathedral and meet them there in two weeks.
• Looting the Fallen: The party loots the Lord of the Feasts and his minions. Zadok harvests the Lord’s jawbone and ties it into his beard as a trophy.
• Descent into the Undercroft: Instead of returning to town immediately, the party decides to explore the Cathedral’s lower levels via the western and eastern staircases.
• The West Wing Puzzle:
  • Discovered a statue of an angel with an articulated arm holding a mirror shield.
  • Successfully reflected a beam of light from the ceiling to a door aperture to open a tomb.
  • Explored a room with mummified saints and a fountain room with a crying statue (rotatable but currently functionless without a light source).
• The East Wing Puzzle:
  • Descended the east stairs to find a statue of Archangel Gabriela.
  • Manipulated her mirror shield to open the eastern tomb.
• Combat: The Restless Saints:
  • Upon entering the East Tomb, mummified saints on unlit sepulchers animated and attacked.
  • Round 1-2: Belmir cast Fireball, lighting the candles and burning the mummies to husks, though they continued fighting. Zadok used a Burning Hands scroll to light remaining candles. Gust and Octai engaged physically.
  • Resolution: The party defeated the undead; once “killed” and with candles lit, the bodies returned to their resting poses.
• Restoring Respect: The party realized the area is Hallowed Ground but “something is missing.” They reset the room, placing gems and weapons back on the corpses out of respect.
• Discovery: Found a removable mirror shield on a statue in the back of the East Tomb.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 NPCs

Name Description Location Hooks/Notes Theodore Marshall Leader of the Silver Order knights present. Departed for Emberwood Plans to return in 2 weeks with a host to purge the land using Argonath’s fire. High Keeper Ophelia High Flamekeeper (mentioned). Emberwood Village Marshall is retrieving her to bring the Scepter to the Cathedral.

⚔️ PCs

PC Player HP/Status Inventory Changes Notes Tyrius Speaker 2 Healthy Acquired Phylactery Used Lay on Hands pool to heal Gust (15 HP). Cast Thaumaturgy and Sacred Flame. Belmir Speaker 3 Healthy +5 Delirium Shards, +3 Scrolls Cast Fireball (4th level). Identified Abjuration magic on candles/doors. Zadok Speaker 4 Healthy +Lord of Feasts’ Jaw (beard ornament) Used Burning Hands scroll. Gust Speaker 8 Healed (+15 HP) None Rolled high stealth/investigation. Sniped mummies. Octai Speaker 6 Healthy None Utilized Flurry of Blows.

💰 Loot & Resources

• Phylactery of the Sacred Flame: Found on the dead priest; looks like a censer containing the phylactery. Requires all seals to function fully.
• Lord of the Feasts’ Longbow: High quality, adorned with bones/trophies. Magical aura.
• Magical Arrows: Quiver of ~20 arrows (exceptional quality).
• Delirium Shards: 5 found on the priest.
• Scrolls: 3 found (1 Burning Hands used by Zadok).
• Mirror Shield: A physical, removable shield found on a statue in the East Tomb (likely needed for light puzzles).

🗺️ Quests & Plot Threads

• Active: The Silver Order’s Return – Wait 2 weeks for Theodore Marshall and Ophelia to return with an army to the Cathedral.
• Active: Explore the Undercroft – The party is currently solving light-reflection puzzles to access deeper areas.
• Hook: The Missing Element – Tyrius sensed that despite lighting the candles, the Hallowed Ground is incomplete or corrupted, causing the saints to rise.
• Hook: Argonath – Confirmed that the plan involves resurrecting St. Vitruvio’s dragon.

📜 World & Lore

• Cathedral Undercroft: Divided into West and East wings. Features light-based puzzles involving mirror shields and apertures.
• Burial Rites: The Undercroft contains the preserved bodies of Saints (e.g., St. Remy, St. Gregorius), which is rare as the Sacred Flame usually cremates dead unless they are great heroes.
• Magic Auras: The candles and doors in the crypt emit strong Abjuration magic, likely divine in nature rather than arcane.
• Glyphs: Floor carvings depict St. Vitruvio riding the dragon Argonath.

⚠️ DM Notes/Reminders

• Time Tracking: The 2-week timer for Theodore Marshall’s return has started.
• Party Status: The party took a short rest prior to entering the Undercroft (attuned to items).
• Loot Identification: The party has not yet fully identified the properties of the Longbow or the remaining 2 scrolls.
• Puzzle State: The party currently possesses a loose Mirror Shield which may be needed for the West Wing fountain room or other apertures.