Arlynn Maddow

Character art by Brahahaga

As an eladrin raised by a lovely lesbian librarian owlin couple, Arlynn was always a bit different than the crowd. With her natural curiosity and keen mind leading her down the path of scholarly wizardry, there was little doubt that she’d end up at Strixhaven. Now that she’s here, she’s looking to forge friendships and make lifelong connections while achieving her dreams of academic success.

## Character Biography

### Acceptance

In a cozy nook filled with books, Arlynn sat in a nest of pillows reading when an envelope bearing her name landed next to her.  She started, looked around and opened it to find an acceptance letter to Strixhaven University School of Mages.  Arlynn was so excited that she ran to tell her mothers, Alfa and Aura, who were librarians at Strixhaven and lived just outside the university.  The mothers promised her they hadn’t pulled strings to let them in and assured her she could stay with them instead of applying for dormitory residence.  However, Arlynn asked if she could live at the dorm to make friends.  After exchanging silent looks, they gave their permission. Alfa and Aura began making lists while Arlynn began imagining her future adventures.

Arlynn’s parents would ultimately go to a Strixhaven parent mixer session, partly out of obligation as faculty staff, partly to attend lectures on how to let their children live their own lives.

### Arrival and Orientation

Arlynn just walked into Strixhaven, carrying a stack of books, and met a human woman named Nora.  After some confusion over the books she carried, Nora carefully gave Arlynn her uniform, welcome packet and keys.  Nora thought Arlynn wouldn’t need directions, but Arlynn admitted she had never been to the dorms and requested directions.  Unfortunately, she tripped down a flight of stairs and spilled books en route.

After she had settled in, Arlynn left for the mandatory orientation, walking across Archway Commons into the Biblioplex--the grand library at the heart of Strixhaven University.  She nervously held a book and looked for her mothers to hide with them.  A minotaur saw her and asked if she needed help.  Arlynn explained she was looking for Aura, but the minotaur explained she wasn’t working today.  He gave her directions to the Hall of Oracles.

Arlynn and Telbron saw a Snarl within. The two of them entered the Hall. Telbron recognized Arlynn was nervous and tried to put her at ease.  He admitted he was used to attending meetings and charity events from his youth.  He added that father owned 204 businesses (to date) and that his family wasn’t the nicest but asked that she keep that a secret. Arlynn studiously noted that down. Their discussion was interrupted when three other students entered the Hall.

Telbron recognized Kai from a charity event they had attended two months ago.  After they exchanged names, Telbron recalled that Kai almost got kicked *out* of the charity event, after the two got in a fight, and approved of how thoroughly Kai irritated Telbron’s father.  He later confided that his father made him start working out after the altercation. It was at that point that Nell realized Kai was *the* Kai-El, recognizing him from his StonelyFans account.  She promised to show a confused Celdryn later.

The students were then greeted by the Snarl, who welcomed them to Strixhaven and told them that the orientation consisted of a scavenger hunt.  As a list appeared, the Snarl told them the list had clues leading to various places throughout the Biblioplex.  They had the rest of the day to solve as many as possible, with the opportunity to win prizes for each riddle they successfully completed.

Arlynn and Kai guessed the first clue referred to the Snarl itself.  They said ‘Snarl’ aloud.  Nelloris noticed pool underneath Snarl and ran towards it, with the others following.  When Nell stuck her hand in the pool, she retrieved a Potion of Healing.  The list automatically checked off the first clue, signaling they successfully solved the riddle.

The students consulted the map for the second clue.  Arlynn, using her knowledge of Strixhaven, guessed it referred to either the Art Gallery or the Student Activities Complex.  Nell then introduced herself to Arlynn and thanked Telbron for his assistance earlier. After some discussion, Arlynn excitedly led students to the Student and Alumni Art Gallery.  Reading the clue again and noting a reference to inspiration, they found a portrait whose placard included that reference.  Telbron felt around the portrait and found a switch that popped open a hidden compartment in the nameplate.  He retrieved five Strixhaven pennants and handed them out to each of the students.  When another team of first-year students came in, Kai pretended it took them a long time to solve the riddle.  Celdryn took a moment to catch on.  Arlynn was completely oblivious to Kai’s deception.  Nell excitedly thought this was like one of her mangas.  Celdryn used Prestidigitation to further conceal the hidden compartment, triggering a Wild Magic Surge that turned him invisible.  Everyone but Telbron noticed Celdryn had disappeared and called out for him.  Celdryn waved a hand in front of Kai before poking his cheek, prompting Kai to flail wildly and almost hit him.  He then gently shook Arlynn by her shoulders.  While Arlynn thought the gallery was haunted, Nell guessed Celdryn was trying to communicate. After Celdryn’s invisibility wore off, Arlynn stiffly introduced herself to the sorcerer.  Telbron distracted the other students with Thaumaturgy (specifically, the sound of crows cawing) so they could continue.

Looking at the next clue, students guessed it referred to the Biblioplex Café and headed over there. There was a gnome barista and a long lineup.  Nell grabbed the list and flew to the front of the line.  The customers protested, prompting Nell to try and elicit sympathy until Arlynn cast Sleep, knocking out twelve of them.  One of the students who’d remained awake yelled at them until Celdryn cast Friends.  Kai scolded the remaining two students for raising their voices in the library. Telbron Intimidated them with Thaumaturgy while Kai loomed over them, scaring the two away.  Now free, Nell and Arlynn presented the list to the gnome barista, who looked at the customers and silently handed goodie bags over to Arlynn. Arlynn took bags and pulled Nell away. Nell thanked Kai and Telbron for coming to her aid.  Kai bought coffees for the remaining thirteen students, while Telbron added a silver coin as tip.  They ran away as the customers woke up (or shook off the Friends spell).  Once they were safe, Arlynn handed out the goodie bags. Each held a scone, artisan mints and a 10% off coupon for the café.

The next clue led the students to the Book Garden.  All the flora reminded Nell of home, prompting her to sit down between some bushes. To her surprise, the bushes took turns poking Nell and waving hello.  At Kai’s prompt, Nell showed letter.  Nell suggested Kai and Telbron wade into the bushes, who promptly patted the two men.  When they returned the gesture, the bushes gave them stuffies (Kai got an art elemental stuffie (mascot of Prismari), while Telbron got inkling stuffie (mascot of Silverquill)).    Celdryn waded into bush and gave it a pat, receiving an inkling mascot as well.  Nell waded into the bushes, dragging a reluctant Arlynn after her.  After they patted the bushes, Nell got a pest mascot (mascot of Witherbloom), while Arlynn patted the bush and got a spirit statue (mascot of Lorehold)

Looking at the list, the students saw there was one final clue that made a reference to stars. After some quick brainstorming, the students headed to the amphitheatre.  Various other students were nearby, some of whom appeared to be part of a LARP club.  Kai-El and Telbron hopped up onto the stage, while Arlynn, Celdryn and Nelloris stayed behind, though they did not know what they were supposed to do.  At Nell’s request (echoed loudly by Arlynn), Kai-El took off his shirt.  Arlynn, Telbron and Nelloris cast Prestidigitation, Thaumaturgy and Druidcraft, respectively, to enhance the performance.  Kai gyrated for a moment before ripping Telbron’s shirt open. Remembering that a similar event occurred at the aforementioned charity event, Telbron punched Kai.   As Kai fell to the stage, some hooded lanterns popped out of the stage.  Seeing that, Arlynn assumed everyone else had to get on stage and remove their shirts. Getting up, Kai hit Telbron back. Nell was so overwhelmed by the drama that she fainted, though Celdryn caught her before she hit the floor. Coming to her senses, Nell reached out to Kai and Telbron, touched their abs and cast Cure Wounds.  Arlynn then climbed onto the stage and began to remove her shirt.  Celdryn saw her, experienced another Wild Magic Surge and sneezed a Fireball at the LARP club which exploded one of their chests.  While magical safeguards put out most of the fire, one of the flaming bits woke up a disguised mimic that began lashing out at anyone nearby.

Most of the students began attacking the mimic with various spells and cantrips. Arlynn was initially oblivious, focusing on removing her shirt as no more hooded lanterns popped up, but eventually joined the fight (with her bra protecting her modesty). Nell suffered a serious wound when the mimic bit her, but managed to avoid getting eaten. In the end, Arlynn killed the creature by using Catapult to hurl a book at it. Exhausted and grievously wounded, Nell sought permission to drink the Potion of Healing. Arlynn checked on Nell, unaware of her current state of undress. Nell admitted she was not prepared for university to be so eventful (episode 1).

### First Year

Arlynn helped Nell drink the healing potion, inadvertently revealing how well-endowed she was.  Nell seemed overwhelmed, either from the recent combat or the number of shirtless students.  Telbron and Kai also noted her confused state.  Arlynn offered to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation before Kai reminded her about the lanterns.  After Arlynn summarily dropped Nell to the ground to retrieve the lantern she’d won, Telbron helped the stunned owlin up.

Other students began to congregate, drawn to the conflict, while the LARP club doused any remaining flames.  An owlin flew down and asked if everyone was all right.  Celdryn asked if it was common for the university to house mimics on the school grounds.  The owlin asked if that was the source of the commotion, prompting Kai to question her knowledge and competency.  She introduced herself as Professor Mavinda Sharpbeak and explained she had been sent to handle an incident at the café involving students using illegal enchantment magic, adding that could be an expellable offence, before being drawn to the ruckus at the amphitheatre.  Nell explained they were attacked by a mimic and defended themselves.  Celdryn added they were also protecting their fellow students, while Kai emphasized that they saved them.  Professor Sharpbeak asked the students to introduce themselves. Arlynn proudly told the professor she’d won a lantern. The professor recognized her as Aura’s daughter, prompting Arlynn to spell her name out.

Seeing how Telbron’s shirt was torn, she cast a Mending cantrip.  Sharpbeak then urged Kai and Arlynn to put their shirts on, reminding them Strixhaven was a prestigious institution.  Arlynn complied, but accidentally mixed up her shirt with Kai’s, causing some confusion before Nell corrected them. Once they were clothed, Professor Sharpbeak repeated her earlier statements that casting enchantments on fellow students would normally be an expellable offence.  However, given their actions against the mimic, she was willing to overlook that incident.  She did instruct them to read over their welcome packet and school rules, as they did cover the use of unauthorized magic.  Sharpbeak also corrected their mistaken impression that the scavenger hunt was a form of competition.  When Nell realized she hadn’t gotten a lantern and asked if she had to take her shirt off, Sharpbeak hastily explained that she simply had to give some kind of performance.  A gnome girl from the LARP club came over and explained that the students had given a performance when removing their shirts, one that included dancing and fireworks, which the professor conceded would meet the requirements.  Sharpbeak also suggested they visit the Student Activities Centre and channel their energy into the clubs and extracurricular activities that were available at Strixhaven, requesting that they refrain from getting into any more trouble.  Kai was particularly interested in the Iron Lifters’ Club and urged Telbron to join him.  Kai also asked if Professor Sharpbeak was in charge of Prismari College, but was told that that privilege fell to the Deans.  Arlynn was embarrassed at the realization that she’d gotten into trouble with a professor.  Sharpbeak then bid them farewell and began casting more Mending cantrips on anything that needed it.

The gnome girl ran up to Arlynn, gushed over how she’d defeated the mimic and introduced herself as Rosie.  When Celdryn asked, Rosie explained she was also a first-year student, but knew people who had attended Strixhaven before and joined the LARP club as well.  Rosie asked Celdryn how he recognized the mimic before, thinking he must be a powerful mage to be able to cast something as powerful as a Fireball spell.  Kai made some boastful claims on Celdryn’s behalf, much to his embarrassment. Rosie urged them to join the LARP club and ran away, before returning to give them pamphlets.

Kai threw away Celdryn’s LARP club pamphlet before he could read it, dismissing it as too nerdy.  Nell commented on Kai’s attitude towards anything nerdy, told him she was a nerd herself, and asked if that made her bad.  Kai said she wasn’t bad, but she shouldn’t become nerdier, citing pornography as a perfectly acceptable pastime.  A confused Arlynn asked what pornography was.  The conversation went on to include the merits of different kinds of relationships, how everyone was feeling and Kai’s desire to check out the Iron Lifters’ Club and see if it could help him maintain his fitness regimen.

After being reminded that she hadn’t gotten her lantern, Nell got up and tried to take off her shirt.  Celdryn reminded her that Professor Sharpbeak had told them such measures were unnecessary, then, seeing that she was unconvinced, tried to stand between Nell and the professor.  Nell revealed to her friends that she was also well-endowed.  Celdryn chose to recite a poem about knowing who you were and being true to yourself, rather than take his shirt off, and was embarrassed by the resulting praise.  Spotting the crumpled LARP club pamphlet, he retrieved it and put it away.

The friends went to the Student Activities Club and found it was fairly empty.  While there were rows of tables, only a few of them were staffed with club members. Arlynn sneaked over to the Cheer Table, only to see a pretty young green-haired human girl.  She froze up when she realized they were going to bump into each other and was thus unable to avoid a collision.  The human apologized and bent down to help pick up some books Arlynn had dropped.  They had a moment after their hands touched.  The girl introduced herself as Larine.  Arlynn introduced herself by spelling out her name in full and asked if Larine wanted to write it down, along with her sending stone information.  After a pause, Larine agreed.  The two shared names, contact information and agreed to set up some study dates.

Kai and Arlynn later saw Nora run out of the SAC with Celdryn, with Nora briefly returning to talk to an orc who followed her out of the room. Nell wondered what he was up to and gathered her friends.  Arlynn told them that Celdryn was taking Nora to the amphitheatre where some of them had taken their shirts off (and, also, fought the mimic).  Kai was notably disinterested, as he was looking forward to the mixer.  After Telbron pointed out that would take place later in the evening, Nell suggested a round of ‘pre-drinks,’ which earned her Kai’s enthusiastic approval.  Arlynn revealed her limited experience with alcohol outside of a glass of wine she’d drank at the age of thirteen.  Kai told her she had a lot of catching up to do. Nell warned them that she could get a little crazy when she was drunk.  Shortly after, they decided to follow Celdryn, Nora and Mak.

The friends met up with Celdryn, Nora and Mak. Nora said hello to the other students. Mak then told the others that he had discovered the mimic corpse had some black goo that was not typically found in such creatures and that he would have to experiment on the sample to learn more. Celdryn asked if he could help.  Mak agreed, inviting him and Nell to join him the next day.  Nora thanked the group for showing her the mimic.  She also asked Arlynn if she could borrow a book from her, as she had (also) fallen afoul of Universal Planar Services.  After giving Arlynn some suggestions on what kind of reading material she was looking for, she commiserated with Telbron on their shared experiences with Universal Planar Services.  Kai offered his opinion on the rival Goblin Postal Service.  Nora then returned to her club table.

Nell then noted that Kai wasn’t looking well.  Kai admitted he was hungry, but what he really wanted was beer.  Celdryn was told about the party and, when asked, admitted he had never been to any parties.  A stunned Kai had to sit down and hyperventilated into a bag.  A helpful Nell told Celdryn it was like a particular issue of a manga they read before urging her friends to get their drink on.  Kai misheard her and wondered if Celdryn would have a carnal encounter before he would. Telbron rolled his eyes.  A worried Celdryn asked Nell if they had to pay for drinks.  Telbron assured them they could put it on his father’s tab, so long as they did not overdo it.

They made their way to the Bow’s End Tavern.  Nell walked up to the bar and asked for a Goblin Grenade, Kai ordered three Kinky Kenkus and a Genie and Tonic.  Telbron asked that the drinks be put on the Stevedore tab.  After they all finished, Kai ordered another round. Telbron decided to slow down while Nell resolved to keep up with Kai.  Celdryn nursed his first drink until Kai encouraged him to ‘open his throat’. Taking him literally, Celdryn enlarged his throat and poured the rest of his drink down.  Kai looked at his drink and wondered if he was seeing things in his inebriation while the other students expressed varying degrees of surprise. When a second round of drinks arrived, Celdryn downed his glass in a similar fashion.  Impressed, Kai wondered if Celdryn was the Chosen One.  Celdryn then grabbed another drink from a passing waitress and, in an uncharacteristically confident manner, finished it in one go and told the others they were two drinks behind. Shaking his head, Telbron declared he would not even try to keep up.  Kai eagerly chugged another drink while Nell asked for a Slippery Nipple. Celdryn needed a moment to compose himself, but assured the others he was fine.  He and Nell declared their appreciation of each other before agreeing to have more drinks.  Arlynn decided she wanted to join them and finished her drink.

Kai revealed that he saw Arlynn by the Cheer Table and told her she would look great in a cheerleader uniform.  By sheer coincidence, four cheerleaders came in and the friends took a moment to admire them.  Emboldened, Celdryn decided to walk over and asked the cheerleaders to help them navigate the various drinks available on campus.  As one of them began recommending the Strixhaven Strut, Celdryn interrupted her and invited them to join his friends, volunteering Telbron to buy their drinks.  Celdryn led the cheerleaders back and introduced them to his friends as J’dell (a halfling), Jeta Stream (a water genasi), Jetam (an elf) and Joy (a tiefling). Telbron wondered if this was the same Celdryn they had met at the beginning of the day.  Nell sidled over to Telbron and asked if he would be okay buying all these drinks.  Telbron reassured her that his father had encouraged him to make connections, but had not provided any limitations on how.

The cheerleaders bought some Strixhaven Struts and demonstrated how to drink them. Celdryn’s attempts to flirt with one of them failed as he became momentarily, and visibly, ill.  Telbron abstained, deciding to ‘babysit’ the others and cut Celdryn off from any more drinks.  Seeing this, Kai and Celdryn tried to encourage him to continue drinking. Kai also cast a Resistance cantrip on Celdryn so he could keep partying.  Telbron reluctantly agreed to join them in another round, only to regret it as the room began spinning.  Nell noticed his vertigo and apologized for all the peer pressure.  Arlynn declared she had a perfect performance and asked Joy the tiefling if she got a prize.  Joy agreed and suggested another drink, but Celdryn suggested a kiss instead. A drunk Arlynn agreed and kissed Joy. As the two began making out, Nell declared she had gained so much material for fan fiction, Celdryn was shocked at this latest development and Kai broadcast the whole thing to his StonelyFans with his sending stone.

More students began trickling in.  A well-dressed first-year student strode up to the bar and ordered a round of drinks for his companions like Telbron had done.  Celdryn then struck up a conversation with J’dell, suggesting Kai was already poised to become the next silkball captain.  Kai played along, asking her about Mage Tower before asking her opinion on various ales.  J’dell recommended the Witherbloom ales, explaining that students guilty of infractions often had to perform unpleasant tasks in Witherbloom’s Detention Bog, whose conditions were ideal for brewing ales.  Hearing about the creatures that roamed freely in the bog, Kai wondered if that was where the mimic came from.  He then summarized their mimic fight to the halfling, playing up Arlynn’s role with Celdryn’s help.  Arlynn mistakenly thought someone had mentioned more shots.  Celdryn obliged and asked for more shots with Thaumaturgy, only to be chastised by a bartender’s louder use of the same cantrip. When the drinks arrived, Celdryn used Mage Hand to drink his shot.

Nell sat in Kai’s lap, much to his surprise, and gave him a kiss.  Celdryn noticed.  Kai waved Bageira over and introduced everyone.  As Bageira sat down, an increasingly inebriated Celdryn commented on her height.  She explained how she just met Kai and asked whether he would also join the Iron Lifters. Celdryn tried to impress her by shapeshifting some extra muscle, but she easily discovered his deception and ordered water for everyone.  After Celdryn asked how she could help Kai, Bageira offered some tips… and suggested food would be a good idea considering how early it was and how drunk they were. She ordered a round of chicken wings after Nell was assured they wouldn’t eat *her* wings.

A group of musicians came in, led by a stunning elven singer who drew Celdryn’s attention.  The well-dressed student and his group cast judgemental looks at the friends’ table. More students were coming into the tavern.  Arlynn finally registered the order of food and agreed she could eat.  Kai and Bageira debated the merits of carbohydrates before he challenged her to an arm-wrestling match.  They exchanged some trash talk before Kai lost decisively. Kai good-naturedly agreed to have some fries.  Arlynn asked if she could have some and offered them to Joy, who declined as she was on a diet.  The cheerleaders said their goodbyes and left.

Nell and Kai sensed that the well-dressed student and  his group recognized Telbron.  Celdryn noticed they were looking at someone, but was so inebriated that Nell was worried about him.  Kai asked Telbron if he recognized the people looking at their table.  After turning his head, he recognized him as someone he had met at one of his father’s events, but he could not remember, or care to remember, his name.  Celdryn waited until that student went to the washroom, found a secluded hallway, morphed his face into a distorted version of the student, went to his friends’ table, faced the other table, wandered into the crowd, returned to his normal features and returned to his friends.  He bowed to Telbron before face-planting on the table.  The friends, clearly worried, tried to find the other student, who they called out Grayson, and queried him when he returned from the washroom.

After helping Celdryn up, Bageira revealed she was in Lorehold College and asked the group which college they hoped to enter.  Kai admitted his family had a legacy in Prismari and felt he had no choice but to go there.  Telbron revealed his famiy had a legacy in Silverquill.  Nell hoped to get into Witherbloom.  Arlynn gave her response through a mouthful of fries.  Celdryn mumbled ‘Goldfeather,’ but some of the students guessed he meant Silverquill.  Nell told Kai and Telbron they should go to whichever college they wanted to enter.  Kai claimed he wanted to go to Prismari because it was the best.  Telbron admitted he hadn’t really decided for himself yet, but wanted to stay on his father’s good side so he would be left alone while he was attending Strixhaven.  The others guessed Telbron might have some father issues.  Nell added he was surprised how many people seemed to resemble the characters she’d read about in her manga.

Celdryn kept admiring the elven singer, which Kai noticed.  A moment later, he saw the singer enthusiastically wave to a blonde elven first-year student.  To his shock, he recognized the other elf as Elowyn, one of his first friends and one of the few people who knew about him, his family and his life.  The others noticed him keeping his head down.  When Nell asked, Celdryn asked her to keep it down, insisted things were fine and claimed he was just drunk.  He asked that if they met the student talking to the elven singer (who he was clearly infatuated with), that they not trust anything she said. After some questions over how they knew each other (and some queries from Kai on whether it was sexual (which Telbron translated)), Celdryn reluctantly admitted they knew each other as children but she had since made his life miserable.

With that settled, Kai challenged Bageira to another arm-wrestling match while Arlynn sent a surprisingly legible text to Larine and asked if she was coming to the Bow’s End Tavern party.  After Larine confirmed she was coming in an hour, though, Arlynn responded with an incoherent series of emojis before dropping and cracking her stone.

Celdryn debated whether to confront Elowyn.  Arlynn offered to give her a piece of her mind.  Nell offered to cast a Chill Touch cantrip to spoil her beer, but Telbron advised it, considering her drunken state and the likelihood of getting the group into trouble again.  Celdryn was open to exploring other spells if they did not require a target.  Arlynn suggested another Sleep spell, which Kai and Telbron quickly discouraged.  Nell listed other spell options before Telbron distracted her with a question about manga characters.  Kai tried reading a manga for himself, only to read it backwards and bend the spine (much to Nell’s and Celdryn’s horror).  He then challenged Bageira again to an arm-wrestling match and won (due partly to Celdryn’s Silvery Barbs).

Kai and Bageira left just as Larine walked in.  Spotting Arlynn, she walked over and joined the group.  Arlynn apologized for not responding to any texts as she’d dropped her stone.  Larine noticed the lipstick on Arlynn’s face from her makeout session with Joy. Arlynn’s claims of having trouble applying lipstick failed miserably.  Celdryn’s attempts to wipe it off only made matters worse.  Laureen claimed to want to see her friends and said her goodbyes, but the group noticed she sat at an empty table before some other students eventually joined her.

Celdryn looked up again, only to meet Elowyn’s eyes and hurriedly turned his gaze back to the table.  He asked whether Elowyn was looking their way.  Arlynn declared that she was traditionally attractive, well put together and had a ‘resting bitch face’.  Upon further examination, she amended the last description to ‘active bitch face’ (to which Nell and Telbron agreed) as Elowyn was staring daggers their way.  When Nell asked, Celdryn admitted their relationship had shattered after he revealed who he was.  He then took a few deep breaths before looking at Elowyn.  After they exchanged glances, the elf looked in various directions before heading to the bar.  Celdryn declared he’d just made the worst decision of his life.  Nell tried to start a bet over how Elowyn would react. Telbron guessed she did not have enough gold, to which Nell replied she did… given the net cost of her manga collection.  Ultimately, Elowyn sat down with her drink at another table.  Celdryn concluded that first year would be more interesting than he thought before suggesting another round of drinks.  Telbron asked if Celdryn wanted to leave, but he declined as he thought Kai would return.  Nell corrected him, saying he had left with Bageira, prompting Celdryn to ask if they should look after him.  Celdryn tried to stand up, only to be forced back down by Telbron, who insisted everyone drink water as he could not carry the rest of them back to the dorm.  Nell tried to fly, only to fail mid-flutter. Expecting this outcome, Telbron was already in position to catch her as she fell, noting she seemed to enjoy being saved.  Celdryn commented on how light she was, due in part to her hollow bones.  Telbron responded that it was her eyes that caught his attention.  Celdryn whispered to Arlynn that they should give Nell and Telbron some privacy and led her away to find Kai.

Arlynn and Celdryn caught up with them, saw their interaction, and watched as she escorted Kai into his dorm.  Arlynn was confused as Bageira was a second-year student. Using his considerable knowledge of manga, Celdryn guessed they were going to have sex.  Arlynn decided he was knowledgeable and worldly before agreeing with Celdryn’s suggestion that they find the others.  They returned in time to see Telbron carrying Nell out of the pub. Celdryn grabbed Arlynn by the collar and pulled her back, but not before Nell saw them.  A confused Celdryn asked aloud what was happening, to which Arlynn guessed Nell and Telbron were going to have sex.  Celdryn then offered to help Arlynn patch things up with Larine, but Arlynn declined, asking if he wanted to talk about Elowyn instead.  Overwhelmed with gratitude, Celdryn gave Arlynn a hug. They returned to Arlynn’s room to hang out and chat, but not before Celdryn ran back into the pub for one last look at the elven singer (episode 2).

Arlynn fell asleep sitting on the bed and leaning against the wall.  She woke up with a krick in her neck and a terrible hangover.  She stood up, became overwhelmed by nausea, and threw up in the closest trash bin.  When she’d finished, she put some pajamas on and left to find some coffee.

In the hallway, she bumped into Nell and Telbron.  Arlynn greeted them and observed Telbron had a ‘parcel’.  Telbron smoothly replied that it was an unexpected, but welcome, package.  Nell was visibly flattered, while Arlynn was clearly taken aback and asked if they had performed ‘shipping activities’.  While Telbron blushed, Nell explained they’d spent the night talking about anime.  She began reciting a list of anime, one of which Arlynn recognized.

They were interrupted by Kai, who was walking down the hallway carrying a bag and wearing nothing but a towel. Arlynn and Nell observed he had forgotten his shirt and pants, respectively.  Kai explained the only clothing he had was soiled.  At that point, they were joined by Celdryn. Hearing Kai, Celdryn offered to clean his clothes.  A confused Kai thought he was going to do his laundry for him, only to see him cast Prestidigitation and belatedly realize he could have cast the same cantrip himself.  Telbron told them he was going to leave and departed with Nell in his arms.  Nell shouted her goodbyes over his shoulder.

The remaining three students were left wondering what had happened.  Kai hollered down the hallway, asking if Nell and Telbron had sex, which momentarily drew the attention of another student.  Nell hollered back that she and Telbron just talked about anime as she was too drunk to do anything else, before loudly asking if Kai and Bageria had sex.  Kai said no (but nodded his head in silent confirmation).  Arlynn took him literally by his word until Nell hollered an explanation.  Nell then shouted that they should continue their conversation in the café so they wouldn’t have to keep yelling down the hall.  Arlynn promised she would ensure Kai put on pants, which derailed any lewd jokes he was about to make.  Instead, Kai showed Arlynn where she could find some coffee, surprised at the quality of the dorm amenities.  Arlynn was not surprised, as her parents had told her Strixhaven was the best educational institution on the plane.  As Arlynn continued to recite more and more factoids to a thoroughly confused Kai, Celdryn went to take a shower.

After having some coffee, Arlynn went to find Celdryn.  She found him coming out of the shower and noted his skin was unnaturally dewy before changing to a more human texture.  Celdryn tucked his shirt in and left, only to bump into Arlynn.  Celdryn allowed her to think his change in skin tone was due to his practice of using shampoo as skin moisturizer.  Arlynn told Celdryn she was gathering the others so they could have breakfast together.  Celdryn joined her and the two wondered what happened between Nell and Telbron the previous night.  They wondered if doing anime was a euphemism for sex.  Having reached Telbron’s dorm room, Arlynn called through the door and told Nell and Telbron that Celdryn wanted to know if they had ‘anime’d’ each other last night.  A confused Kai stepped out of his room and, joining them in the hallway, asked the same question out loud.

They made their way to the Firejolt Café, only to hear someone call out Arlynn’s name excitedly.  Turning around, they saw Rosie the gnome charge up and ask if they were doing anything.  After asking if they were going to Firejolt, she urged them to follow, telling Nell she’d enjoy it.  When they arrived, Rosie told them she would go in first, and that the others should casually make their way to the back room later.

The friends went inside and quickly saw Larine sitting at a table with Grayson and a distinguished-looking girl.  There were several other students in the café including an owlin sitting by himself, Greta, an earth genasi, Nora and the elven singer.  At the coffee bar, Javanesh could be seen chatting with a barista.

Celdryn’s eyes were drawn to the singer, but the friends recalled he was fixated on the other elf who had talked to her.  They also wondered how he was able to drink so much without a hangover.  Kai was still confused as to why they had followed Rosie inside.  Nell told him the gnome had something cool to show them.  Arlynn decided to apologize to Larine, despite the fact that she was with friends, explained things had escalated faster than expected with the person who’d given Arlynn lipstick, and expressed hopes that they could hang out.  Larine’s friends gave Arlynn judgemental looks.  Grayson also glanced at Telbron.  Arlynn rushed away before Larine could say anything more.

Seeing the friends, Nora greeted them.  Telbron took the opportunity to tell her his uniform had finally arrived, after travelling through twenty different planes (including the Abyss).  Nora admitted she knew someone who had something similar happen and the incident ended with an imp hitching a ride in the package.  Telbron admitted he was not sure if there were any imps in his package as he had not opened it yet.  Nora assured him he probably did not have to take any precautions.  When Telbron asked if there would be any repercussions for attacking any imps, Nora suggested he make sure the devils were not actually university employees.

Nora then introduced Aurora Winterstar, who recognized him as she had performed at some of his family’s events.  Nell complimented Aurora on her voice.  Aurora recalled seeing them at the Bow’s End Tavern enjoying themselves.  Celdryn looked away awkwardly.  Aurora recognized Kai as well, through the messages they had apparently exchanged on StonelyFans.  After swapping compliments, Kai and Aurora agreed to meet up for drinks (and maybe more) some time.

Kai asked if anyone wanted coffee.  Nora and Aurora declined, indicating they already had some.  Heading over to the coffee bar, he ordered coffees for everyone (white chocolate mocha with extra caramel sauce and an extra shot of espresso for Nell; espresso deep roast with a long shot of espresso for Telbron (per his request for the strongest thing they had); espresso macchiato for Celdryn (despite his request for the cheapest thing they had and black coffee for Arlynn.  He paid for the coffees and added a tip.  Arlynn grabbed her coffee from the bar, having followed Kai without his knowing.  Kai brought the other coffees back and told Celdryn he’d made his drink a little more expensive as thanks for the soap.  After they got their coffees, they noticed Rosie trying to get their attention and trundled over to the back room.

As they walked, Celdryn asked Arlynn if she was okay, noting she was acting different since talking to Laureen.  Arlynn gave a series of vague responses.  Celdryn respected her desire for privacy and offered to lend an ear if she needed it.

They saw Rosie sitting with a blond elf who had a small crate.  There were many other people, including a dryad, Mak and a loxodon in military garb with a wealth of gold piercings.  Rosie waved them over and introduced them to the elf, whose name was Cadoras.  Cadoras whispered to Rosie that she thought they were inviting one person over, not five, but was assured it was fine.  Nell piped up that they were all as smart as one person, rendering Telbron speechless and offending Arlynn.  Telbron told Cadoras that Nell was still waking up.  Rosie told Cadoras that Nell looked like the kind of person who would know about certain things and urged him to open the box.  He slowly complied, revealing four glowing frogs.  Cadoras told them she’d found the frogs in a creek behind the café, but had never seen any creatures like them before and wondered if they were native to this plane.  Nell offered to cast Speak With Animals, picked one up and greeted them.  To her surprise, they belched and grew in size until they were the size of large dogs.

The students swung into action, casting various spells. Arlynn hid behind Rosie and asked why the frogs grew in size, but Rosie did not know. Kai scored the first frog with a Guiding Bolt from his eyes. Nell hid behind Telbron, who went down after two frogs latched on his arms. Arlynn killed two frogs with a flaming log that she launched with Catapult, while an injured frog died after botching an attack against Kai. Nell cast Spare the Dying by kissing Telbron, then kissed him again to regurgitate a healing potion into his mouth. Arlynn belatedly pointed out that pouring the healing potion into his mouth would also work.

Celdryn and Telbron were distracted for their own reasons.  The others noted the frogs shrinking back to normal size, leaving behind a oily black substance that Nell recognized was similar to the ooze from the mimic.  Arlynn investigated the black substance, going so far as to lick it, and concluded it was sweet to the taste.  Mak overheard, came over and took a sample.  He also looked at Nell and Telbron before suggesting that they put off any scientific experiments until the next day.  Nell assured him they did not need time to recover, so Mak decided they should begin his investigation at once.  Nell and Mak then wandered off.

The loxodon in military garb asked the others if they were all right and whether they needed to see the nurse.  Telbron wearily agreed.  Celdryn agreed as well after learning it wouldn’t cost anything.  The loxodon introduced himself as Rampart and led them to the nurse’s office, having assured them that he’d memorized the campus map and knew where to go (episode 3).

Kai asked Telbron if was okay.  Telbron assured him that the healing potion Nell had fed him cured most of the damage, but agreed he should go to the infirmary to make sure nothing else was amiss. Kai wondered if the frogs would give Telbron warts.  When Arlynn stepped away, Kai wondered if fey could get warts.  After a one-sided conversation from Kai about the transmissibility of the virus that caused warts and the necessity of vaccines, the three of them went to the infirmary.  The nurse confirmed Telbron had been wounded, but was not cursed or poisoned.  Telbron assured Kai that his father had made sure that his vaccinations were up to date.

On the way out, Kai swiped some free condoms.  He offered one to Arlynn, who refused to take it.  Telbron tried to surreptiously take some as well and was mortified when he knocked over the bowl.  He warned Kai against making any remarks.  Kai insisted he would have given him some, as he did not intend to use them all… that week.  Telbron eventually took the ‘Orc’ brand, a regular-sized condom that claimed to have extra durability.

Classes began the following day.  While the students had chosen their own electives, they all were expected to take Magical Physiology, a course scheduled for the end of the day (last class of day).  Kai showed up early in disguise (wearing glasses) and went to the front row.  Nell showed up with Telbron and dragged him to the front.  Arlynn joined them in the front door.   They failed to see Kai, not recognizing him in his glasses.  Meanwhile, Celdryn sat in one of the back corners, secretly practicing his magic and trying to cast levelled spells.

Arlynn went so far as to compliment Kai on his glasses without realizing she was talking to her friend.  He noticed she had labeled every page of her notebook with her name, the date and timestamps.  The latter, Arlynn explained, was so she could go back and calculate her note-taking velocity.

Before long, the teacher arrived and went to the front of the lecture hall.  She introduced herself as Professor (Veralda) Lang and welcomed them to Magical Physiology. After taking attendance, she gave an overview and class outline, explaining that the focus this year would be on slaadi, owlbears and otyughs. Celdryn asked for the correct spelling of those creatures. Nell wanted to know Lang’s favourite mushrooms. Telbron asked which of the creatures she was teaching was her favourite.  Lang admitted she had never been asked that question but picked owlbears.  She thanked him for his question by name, which drew the attention of several students.

After class, Nell asked her friends if they wanted to go out for ice cream, wondering where Kai was. As if on cue, Kai walked behind a dryad, took off his glasses and joined them.  Nell wondered where Kai had been all day, but invited him to join them for ice cream.  Before they left, one of the condoms Telbron grabbed from the infirmary fell out of his pocket.  Celdryn retrieved it and, after Kai identified the brand, returned it to Telbron. Nell’s eyes widened before she flushed and hurried her friends to the ice cream shop.

At the ice cream shop, Kai tried samples.  He did not like the first few options (frankenberry, razberry (that was somehow spicy). Eventually, Arlynn chose three scoops of razberry in a cone, much to Kai’s surprise.

Over the next month or so, the students would take their classes.  They spent some of their free time on extracurricular activities or picking up jobs around campus, with Arlynn getting a job as a lab assistant for magical physics experiments while signing up for the Cheer Squad. Arlynn joined the cheer squad.  On her first practice, the cheer captain put everyone into pairs for stretching exercises.  Arlynn was partnered with a student named Zanther.  When asked, Arlynn told him she had no prior cheer experience, but she had studied airborne bodies.  Zanther was taken aback by Arlynn’s literal nature and did not seem surprised to hear she was thinking of entering Quandrix.  As they stretched, Arlynn revealed she’d grown up at Strixhaven as her parents worked in the university library.  Zanther hailed from another plane of existence, admitting he was homesick. Arlynn invited him to join her and parents for weekend dinners.

At some point, the friends went to the Firejolt Café for coffee. Celdryn was already there, finishing his shift with the help of his notes and cue cards. As he had slowly improved his barista skills, Mina allowed him to make the occasional drink for his friends in order to gain more experience. Kai was the next to arrive. Arlynn came in wearing a lab coat, covered head to toe in soot, requesting a spicy raspberry latte. After realizing who she was, Celdryn directed her to Kai and hastily gave her some paper towels to put underneath--and around--her. Kai was shocked to see Arlynn's state. Arlynn explained she had followed a checklist of tasks during her first day as a lab assistant, but had neglected to erect a blast shield.

Seeing the soot that Arlynn was leaving around her, Mina walked over and tried to clean it up, only to find it strangely--and magically--resistant to her efforts. Celdryn brought over drinks and was fascinated by how hard the soot was to clean. He also noticed that Arlynn had left a trail of soot behind her that meandered throughout the campus. Arlynn suggested her lab could help deal with the soot before remembering she promised to order coffee for them. While the contact information and the list were all covered in the soot, she managed to interpret the order as four black coffees. Kai ordered three Underdark coffees for himself, Nell and Telbron. Mina took Arlynn's order, but pointedly ignored Kai. Seeing that, Celdryn took care of Kai's order.

Shortly after, Nell and Telbron arrived. After Nell let Arlynn and Kai assume she was pregnant with Telbron's child, she presented her new mushroom familiar, Shae Taki. Arlynn was confused until Nell explained she had cast a Find Familiar spell. Kai was confused that Nell and Telbron were actually dating. Shae greeted the friends with burbling comments and happily accepted Arlynn's offer of coffee. Nell began taking notes as her familiar drank the coffee, becoming covered in Arlynn's soot, and greeted all of Nell's friends... with the notable exception of Telbron. Telbron wondered if Shae's aloofness was because they sensed he was a warlock.

Nell asked Celdryn how his barista job was going. He told her it was going well, but became overwhelmed with shock when remembering his attempts to make latte art. Celdryn did bring one of his attempts over, which seemed to depict a horrified face mouthing 'Please kill me'. Seconds later, he experienced a Wild Magic Surge that transformed the latte into a unicorn with an equally horrified face. The friends—and Mina—were shocked and confused. Nell and Telbron wondered if there was something hallucinatory in their coffee. Kai tried to wipe his soot-covered hand on the unicorn and saw that its hide remained pristine. Arlynn offered the unicorn her coffee just as Kai slapped the unicorn's rear. The unicorn reared up, spilling Arlynn's coffee, and bolted out of the café, breaking down the door in the process. Arlynn decided it was time to return to the lab, took her coffee order and left (episode 4).

Nell, Arlynn (who was raised by owlin) and the other owlin had taken a few weeks off for the Owlidays.  Nell was going to leave Shae with Telbron, but changed her mind after Shae’s constant crying.  The university arranged to reschedule their exams (episode 5).

Arlynn’s Owlidays tended to include many (nerdy) trivia games.  The cuisine was often more diverse and less traditional than that of other owlin families, as Arlynn’s parents had traveled so much and met so many different peoples and cultures.  This Owlidays was notable, partly because Arlynn’s parents fawned over her and were pleased at how well their daughter was doing, but also because one of Arlynn’s favourite uncles, a researcher named Balderick who often brought a chocolate fudge (gelatinous cube) to the family gatherings, was conspicuously absent.  Arlynn talked to her cousin Jarruna, who tried to talk about other topics like their hopes of entering Strixhaven, but ultimately admitted that Balderick was on a research trip in the Badlands.  While he had gone with another professor and some students, he hadn’t checked in via Sending Stone for a couple days.  Arlynn offered to ask around when she returned to Strixhaven and message Jarruna on Instajam if she heard anything.

While Jarruna took her turn for trivia night, Arlynn asked her mothers if they had heard anything about Balderick.  They shared a look, claimed they hadn’t heard anything, guessed she’d spoken to Jarruna and assured her that her uncle had probably gotten caught up in one of the anomalies in the area and had been delayed.  When asked, her mothers admitted that search parties could be sent out but, given the short amount of time he’d been out of contact and the duration of his research trip, there was not cause for concern.  Mollified, Arlynn helped her mothers grab some leftover fudge from the top shelf and were stunned to see how much there was.  Arlynn discerned that the fudge, while not sentient, seemed to be magically replicating.  Nonplussed, she got permission from her mothers to take some back to her dorm.

Arlynn spent the last few days studying with her parents’ help and joined Nell for her Magical Physiology exam. She wound up being the last student to hand in her exam.  Seeing that no one else, including Nell, was around, she went to the bar to drown her sorrows.  After getting thoroughly drunk, a small stone golem delivered a message informing her she passed her exam.  Javanesh came over to see if she was okay, only to be inundated by drunken accusations riddled with innuendo.

Nell and Kai came into the bar and joined Arlynn, who quickly revealed her inebriated state.  Javanesh asked Kai for help and was flustered when he asked for multiple shots to try and catch up.  He was relieved when Nell assured him that she would see Arlynn back to her dorm.  Arlynn drunkenly told Kai that he looked the same with or without his glasses, only to be completely confused when she put her glasses on him.  Now concerned, Kai asked if she needed to leave.  Arlynn agreed after learning Kai had copious amounts of alcohol in his room.

Later, Arlynn heard Celdryn and Telbron walking down the hallway and popped out of her room, startling the two of them.  She accepted their invitation to join them for coffee.

Upon entering the Firejolt Café, Celdryn greeted Mina and asked for three coffees.  Arlynn and Telbron overheard Shae burbling about coffee and saw Kai and Nell sitting side by side.  Arlynn came over and, noting some empty chairs at their table, wondered if anyone was coming back to occupy them.  Nell realized Telbron had returned, dragged a chair over and launched herself into his arms.  Telbron asked how she was doing, sensing she had not enjoyed her time home based on her letters.  Nell confirmed things only improved after she left her family and returned to Strixhaven.  She explained she’d passed the time hanging out with Kai.  Despite Kai’s efforts to silence her, Nell told the group she’d gotten him hooked on manga.  Kai then made some comments that offended Arlynn.

Nell asked how Telbron was doing after his spectrepox flare-up.  He replied that he was doing well, and that his father worried way too much about it.

Nell reassured Telbron that she had kept his ring safe.  Telbron asked if anything weird had happened, as he was currently drawing his magic from the ring and his family did not know that yet.  Kai wondered if they were engaged.  Arlynn admitted she had not noticed as she was still processing Kai’s comments.  Celdryn hastily brought over the coffees in an effort to pacify the situation.  Kai added some ‘water’ (actually vodka) to Arlynn’s coffee as a (successful) peace offering.  As Celdryn handed out the rest of the coffees, Nell offered Shae to Telbron, only to be dismayed at the lack of enthusiasm her familiar expressed to her boyfriend.  Nell then admitted they’d been there for three hours, though she’d spent the time reading manga.  Kai had apparently spent the time coming up with names.  Celdryn recognized Kai and Nell were talking about manga, silently observed the chemistry between them, then asked how they had done on their exams.

After a pause, Celdryn asked how everyone had done on their exams.  Kai and Nell said they did well.  Celdryn admitted he couldn’t remember.  Arlynn asked Kai for some ‘spicy water’.  After he accidentally spilled some on himself, he left to clean himself up—but not before leaving the vodka at Arlynn’s request.  Nell recalled that Arlynn had spent a surprising amount of time in the exam room.  Arlynn made it clear she did not want to discuss it and asked about their vacations.  Celdryn replied he had an enjoyable vacation with his sister, as his parents were not around.

At that point, Rosie ran up to Arlynn.  She handed her a letter, only to stop and ask where Kai was.  The students gave various responses laden with innuendo until Kai came back.  He forgot who Rosie was, but eventually remembered she was the ‘LARP nerd.’  As a joke, he offered her vodka, which she took three times.  He then relented and gave her a bottle that actually contained water.  Rosie drank some before Alynn smacked the water bottle to the ground and cracked it.  Celdryn gave in to Kai’s indignation and Mended the bottle back together.  Arlynn cast Prestidigitation on the bottle and Nell cast Druidcraft on Kai.

The letter was addressed to the ‘big heroes on campus,’ challenging them to recover ‘the legendary Sassy Sally Jane’.  While the note was not signed, it told them to meet the sender outside Captain Dapplewing’s Manor at midnight.  Arlynn thought it sounded like a spooky caper, while Nell thought it might be fun.  Telbron, to Kai’s question, only knew it had nothing to do with his family as his father did not believe in fun.  Nell asked Kai if it came from his family, but he did not recognize the handwriting.  Nell and Telbron agreed that they were more disaster magnets than heroes.

Recalling what he read from the Strixhaven brochures, Telbron told the students that Captain Raymous Dapplewing was a military veteran and owlin mage who was one of Strixhaven’s first professors, holding faculty appointments in Lorehold and Silverquill.  Dapplewing had built the manor using his military pension, where he could retire in the evening and hold lavish dinner parties or seminars.  Upon his death, he bequeathed the manor to the university, who named it in his honour and preserved most of the original furnishings.  The upper floor libraries were converted to offices for esteemed dual-college faculty members, who met with students during the day.  The manor also hosted dinner parties and cocktail hours for those faculty members, their most promising students and visiting alumni.  As no one lived there permanently, the manor was locked overnight and security measures were in place. Having grown up on campus, Arlynn was familiar with the manor and knew Sassy Sally Jane was a magical doll.

The students guessed that breaking into the manor to retrieve the doll was against the rules, and might even be a form of hazing.  While Celdryn expressed some reservations, they ultimately decided to attend the meeting at midnight. Kai thought they should prepare by having frequent small meals to get enough nutrients and protein.  Arlynn and Nell agreed that they should eat, mostly because they were hungry.  Celdryn cast Mage Armor, followed by Arlynn, Kai and Telbron (through the ring that Nell was still wearing).

Arlynn changed into a black catsuit to better blend into the dark.

They easily found their way to Captain Dapplewing’s Manor and saw a small group of students waiting underneath a massive oak tree in the front yard.  Rosie demanded Mina pay up, as she’d successfully bet that they would come.  Mina and Kai exchanged insults before Grayson emerged from the shadows.  Celdryn began asking questions, to which Grayson replied that he had Rosie transcribe the note and this challenge had nothing to do with the LARP club.  He observed that Celdryn was interested in joining the Entrepreneur’s Society but Telbron had not, to which the latter replied he was trying to step out on his own and follow his own interests.  Celdryn observed Grayson seemed to know a lot about them, to which Grayson replied that: a) he and Telbron moved in the same circles and b) the students had made a name for themselves.  Kai, after conferring with Celdryn, wondered aloud if that was a good thing, prompting Grayson to get to the point: if the students were successful, they stood to make a great deal of profit.

Grayson told them that Sassy Sally Jane was a talking doll with a proprietary animating intelligence magic that let it learn new things.  If the ‘AI’ could be reverse-engineered, it could be used for a great many things.  As such, Grayson offered gold and shares in a theoretical future company if the students retrieved the doll. Arlynn, Kai and Nell found him difficult to read, but felt he might be sincere.

The students quickly had a huddle.  Celdryn suggested keeping the doll for themselves.  Telbron assured them that Grayson was trustworthy.  Arlynn proposed giving a noncommittal response to Grayson’s proposal.  They ultimately agreed to break into the manor, though Celdryn added that they could negotiate arrangements once they acquired the doll.  Grayson agreed and provided the following information:

* Watch out for the Earl, an automaton that might offer hostilities to anyone caught after hours who was not a professor.
* The stairwells could adjust themselves to the strides of different people.
* They could ignore any glowing runes they might see.
* Sometimes the doll was on display, sometimes it was not.
* The doll was known to say some really inappropriate things, especially at the wrong time.
* There was a student storage area on the second floor.
* Some display cases could be found on the first and second floors.

The students began debating how to get in when Kai asked what stopped past efforts to acquire the doll.  Grayson admitted the Earl tended to catch most students in the act and alert the faculty.  Hearing that, Celdryn decided to shift his shape to resemble Professor Brenneth Blackstone, a dhampir Scriptology professor from Silverquill College.  He tried the front door, only to find it was locked.  Nell saw a key glinting from a nearby potted plant.  Pulling it out, she saw the inscription Prof. Eudora.  With Celdryn’s help, she opened the door.  Celdryn went in first to test any security measures while Telbron cast Light on his ring.  Seeing no reaction, the other students went in.

They saw coatracks carved into statues of various people.  Kai and Nell noticed nothing else as they were strangely distracted.  Arlynn, Celdryn and Telbron recognized them as Captain Dapplewing’s favourite military compatriots, some of whom were professors, while others were frequent visitors to the campus.  They also saw the dwarf statues were so lifelike that they seemed to be breathing.

As Celdryn approached one of the dwarves, it turned towards him, greeted him as ‘Professor Brenneth’ and offered to take his coat.  He declined, pretending he and his companions would not be long.  Celdryn tried to ask about any security measures and learned the Earl was online.  He tried to ask the dwarf to have the Earl make tea, only to learn the automaton was behind him.

Turning around, the students saw a clockwork butler setting a table.  Seeing that it had not noticed them, the students silently discussed where the doll might be.  Celdryn had the idea of approaching the Earl under the guise of the Professor.  Unfortunately, the Earl saw through his disguise, sounded the alarm and reached for Celdryn.

Arlynn tried to cast Sleep to no avail. Nell cast Shillelagh and awakened her Halo of Spores, which dealt necrotic damage to the Earl. The Earl then charmed Arlynn, who suddenly wanted to approach the Earl. Kai tried to punch the Earl, but slipped on the carpet. He hit Nell in the jaw instead on the way down. Celdryn Commanded the Earl to reset, but it resisted his spell. Shae glared at Kai, dealing him psychic damage in the process. Telbron cast Witch Bolt. Seeing it fail, he Hexed the Earl instead.

A Charmed Arlynn walked towards the Earl and hugged it. Nell hit the Earl with her Shillelagh'd quarterstaff. The Earl grabbed Celdryn and Kai and clanged them together like a set of cymbals. In the process, Celdryn clipped Arlynn and broke the Earl's charm. Celdryn then experienced a Wild Magic Surge that caused him to cast Fog Cloud on himself. Kai knocked the Earl's legs out from under it and destroyed it with one punch. The party found themselves trapped in the Fog Cloud... (episode 7).

The Fog Cloud proved to be somewhat problematic for the students.  Nell fumbled around and gripped Celdryn’s… parts.  Celdryn yelped and warned the others that there was a threat with them, causing Kai to hurt himself while trying to engage the ‘enemy’. Arlynn fell down near Celdryn while Nell tripped over the Earl and fell between Celdryn and Kai.  Celdryn fumbled around and bumped into Kai.  Realizing the fog was causing too many problems, Kai cast Gust and blew the fog away.  Telbron walked past Arlynn to help Nell up.  Kai helped Arlynn up after repeatedly asking if she needed help, then decided to carry her until she could walk again.

Looking around, Celdryn looked around and found a small velvet purse underneath a nearby chair. He opened it, only to close it after discovering it contained fifteen gold pieces rather than the doll they were looking for.  Telbron and Arlynn noticed his discovery but were not inclined to take it for themselves. Celdryn also found a poker with a silver tip and mentioned his unusual find to the group.

Meanwhile, Nell wandered off on her own, going to the second floor via the magical stairs, which magically grew and shrank depending on who was climbing.  Celdryn went behind her, followed by Kai, who was carrying Arlynn. Telbron used the runes to teleport to the top.  He chatted with Nell before Kai hollered for them to stop blocking the stairs.

Once everyone was on the second floor, they looked around. Celdryn went to the next one and found it was full of day beds.  Seeing Arlynn was still disoriented, Kai offered to let her sleep in one of them. The eladrin wound up lying down for a short time.  Kai continued carrying her as she had not fully recovered.

Nell and Telbron returned to the others.  Celdryn noticed Nell’s lipstick was smudged and pointed it out.  Nell quickly cleaned herself and Telbron up. The students compared notes and realized they were in an interdepartmental office area for professors like Professor Lang that taught in more than one college.  Nell looked for Professor Lang’s desk and put her ring on it.  Telbron looked around and saw random coins here and there, but left the money alone as he felt he didn’t need it.

Panicked, Celdryn let loose a Wild Magic surge that serendipitously gave him resistance to everything. Arlynn sensed something was happening, launched herself from Kai’s arms, took cover by a doorway and held her action. Telbron entered the room, moved his Hex to the pteradon closest to Celdryn and Eldritch Blasted it. Shae got close to Nell and helped her. Nell flew into the room, came to a hovering halt near the pteradon attacking Celdryn and cast Poison Spray, then used her Halo of Spores to kill the pteradon. Arlynn realized the pteradon went down so easily that Sleep would likely affect one hostile. Casting the spell, she did indeed bring one pteradon down, though the other one came very close to succumbing. Kai pushed his way into the room, saw what was happening and tried to circle kick the pteradon, only to miss as it was falling asleep. Celdryn got up and cast Firebolt. A lone pteradon attacked Kai. Arlynn Phase Stepped in between two of the pteradons, Charming them in the process, and told Telbron to open the window as she had a plan. Telbron walked over, opened a window and ducked out of the way.  Arlynn encouraged one pteradon to fly out, then woke up the remaining live pteradon and shooed it out the window.

The students then noticed Celdryn looked shiny. Kai tried to stuff the dead pteradon into the couch.  Nell grabbed a bottle of alcohol and Celdryn put a book over its head to make it look like it passed out.  The students then split up to continue their search.

Nell invited Telbron to help her investigate another room.  Arlynn tried to follow them, only to be dissuaded by Nell who suggested she accompany Kai.  Arlynn wondered if Nell was trying to set her up with Kai and told her she wasn’t interested. Arlynn then followed Celdryn, who wondered what was going on.  Arlynn told him what Nell tried to do.  Arlynn and Celdryn wondered if Nell and Telbron wanted privacy to make out or something.

Arlynn and Celdron continued their investigation, entering a messy storage room with loose parchments, boxes and many spilled items. Arlynn found a secret door that led to a much more organized room, albeit one that had not been disturbed in some time judging by the amount of dust.  While Arlynn did not find the doll, she did find two Potions of Mind Reading tucked into some boxes.  Celdryn advised her not to tell Arlynn.  On the way out, they saw a box with a Universal Planar Services shipping tag that was leaking ink.  Opening it, they saw two broken bottles that used to contain ink.  Curiously, the ink seemed to be crawling up and out of the box. Then ink tendrils attacked Arlynn and Celdryn.

An ooze attacked Celdryn with pseudopod, dealing enough damage to dissolve his shirt. Arlynn made protesting noises. Hearing noise, Nell ran in and cast Inflict Wounds, enhanced with her Halo of Spores. Arlynn attacked an ooze with a book. Shae ran away from Nell, waddled to Telbron and Helped him (by acknowledging he existed). Telbron made his way past Nell and Celdryn, moved his Hex to one of the oozes and cast Eldritch Blast. Celdryn cast Vicious Mockery, but got covered in ink. Kai came in, wondered what was going on, cast Guiding Bolt from his eyes and killed both oozes (though he was slightly blinded by the shot).

Celdryn was clearly in rough shape, so Nell cast Cure Wounds.  He thanked her and cast Prestidigitation to clean himself. However, he noticed there was one splotch that did not come off.  Looking closer, he thought it looked like the goo they’d encountered on and off during school.  Nell wondered where the package came from, only to discover it was mostly burned with radiant light.  Celdryn cast Mending to reform the package label.  He saw it was addressed to the Strixhaven campus, but the label was ripped beforehand.  All he could see of the sender were the initials “U.M.”

The students wondered where the doll was.  Arlynn, however, happened to be closest to the window and heard movement outside. Looking outside, she saw a group of professors opening one of the back patio doors.  Arlynn warned the others.  Nell advised they should find a place to hide.  The students began running up and down the hallway, frantically looking around for hiding places… and Nell noticed a crack in the centre pillar. She also noticed an open door leading into the pillar.  They saw a stairway inside the pillar leading up and quickly ascended.  Kai was the last student in and closed the pillar behind him.

They found themselves in a cramped attic with boarded windows with various oddities including dozens of dolls, a dress with wings made of bone and a rocking animal shaped like a roc.  Celdryn investigated the dolls while Nell rode the roc, finding a pink-haired doll dressed in tartan.  He asked the doll if it was Sassy Sally Jane and it gave a cheerful, if vague, response. Celdryn told his friends he’d found the doll, put it in a cloak pocket and began examining the windows.

Meanwhile, Arlynn noticed the doll underneath was a white-haired leonin wearing a suit, sporting an impressive mustache and gripping a coin purse.  Arlynn promptly claimed the second doll and named it Issacah. She then reached for the dress, which suddenly fired bone spurs at her. Kai cast Guiding Bolt, then moved near Arlynn to offer himself as a distraction. Celdryn cast Catapult to throw the creepiest doll he could find at the dress and shattered the wings that were attached to it.

Arlynn grabbed the dress, still intent on having it.  Nell desired it until she realized it was fitted for someone much, much taller than her. Celdryn told them he could Mend it later.  He then opened one of the windows facing the front, as the professors were entering through the rear door and carefully climbed out the window.  He only made it a short way along the roof before suddenly falling.  Nell and Arlynn both tried, and failed, to catch him, and watched helplessly as he slid down the roof and fell to the ground below.  Nell flew down and cast Spare the Dying on Celdryn.  Celdryn assured her he was (barely) fine, and deliberately fell on his back to cushion the impact to the doll.  Hearing Kai, she flew back up.

Meanwhile, Kai got impatient and jumped out.  He asked if Arlynn needed help.  When Nell came back up, Telbron asked her to hold on his ring and popped into it. Shae, who was perched on him, fell on the ground and looked unimpressed.  Nell flew down with Shae and the ring… but locked eyes with one of the professors. As the professors ran down the stairs, Nell urged the students to run.  Arlynn slid part of the way down with Kai’s help and Phase Stepped to the ground.  A stunned Kai began arguing with Arlynn about why she did not use that ability earlier, then cast Thunderclap on the roof as a distraction and jumped off the roof.  Arlynn caught his hand and helped him land safely.  Celdryn tried to compliment Arlynn.  Kai grabbed them and ran.  Celdryn offered to help her study.  Nell flew with the ring in her talons.

Unfortunately, Celdryn was so smitten that he tripped and fell.  The doll fell out of his robes and insulted him.  Celdryn cast Catapult on the doll to shoot it towards the students. The other students saw the doll land in front of them.  Looking back, they saw Celdryn surrounded by professors.  The students kept on running, with Nell scooping up the doll.

They returned to the campus and waited. Eventually, they saw Grayson emerge, escorted by another professor, who left after reminding him to report to the Witherbloom campus first thing in the morning.  The other students came out of the nearby bushes to join him once the coast was clear.

Arlynn declared Celdryn to be a fucking legend, while Nell thought the real Grayson would be very confused. Celdryn asked Telbron what might happen, who suggested telling the real Grayson what they did or continue pretending he was Grayson for now.  While Arlynn thought they should give up Grayson, Nell felt the best option was to masquerade as Telbron for a little longer, as fingering Grayson could backfire on them.  Kai asked whose description Celdryn would give if he met the professor.  Celdryn wondered if he could get away with a vague description.  Kai half-jokingly asked if Celdryn was planning on making some enemies to use as scapegoats.

As the students talked, a group of Mage Tower athletes shoved Celdryn aside and tried to get inside. Kai came to Celdryn’s defence, but his attempts to punch one of them wound up shattering the door glass instead. He then proceeded to confront the athletes until another professor called him out by name.  Kai realized she was Professor Uvilda Mistcoiler, the Prismari Dean of Perfection.  She told him he would be cleaning up the campus for a month as punishment for his actions, and to report to her office in the morning.  As the athletes went in, Kai glared at them until the Dean warned him to get his anger in check, pointedly telling him that his father’s status as a prominent donor would not shield him from the consequences of his actions.  Kai asked how much she saw and observed bullying was a serious problem on the campus. Dean assured him she had witnessed enough of the altercation and would report the athletes to their coach, who could closely watch them as well.

Once the students were inside, Arlynn took some of the ooze from Celdryn’s clothes and threw it at one of the athletes.  The athlete caught her in the act and went to the washroom to clean their attire.  Celdryn asked Arlynn for one of the mind reading potions.  He apologized to Kai for indirectly getting him into trouble and thanked him for his support.  A concerned Kai asked if Celdryn was okay as he could have been hurt.  Celdryn simply followed the athlete into the washroom.

Hearing Celdryn cry out, Arlynn ran into the washroom and asked what happened.  Celdryn claimed the athlete had assaulted him. In return, the athlete claimed his innocence, declared Celdryn was crazy and left.  Celdryn assumed his normal appearance as soon as the athlete departed, much to Arlynn’s amazement. She made a cup of tea and left it outside his room with a cookie and note.  She then returned to her room to read (episode 8).

At some point during the night, Arlynn started feeling ill and returned to her mothers.  When Nell tried to contact her to set up a study group, she told the group chat she was sick (episode 9).

While convalescing at her mothers’ house, Arlynn made sure to keep up with her studying. She later took a makeup exam with a handful of other students—including Telbron.  The first half was a multiple-choice section on owlbear hunting, eating, mating, fighting and living habits. The long form section was on owlbear companions—taming, training and handling owlbears.

Arlynn and Telbron walked out of the classroom together.  She noticed that he looked exhausted and nervous.  She asked how he did on the exam.  Telbron thought he had done better. He then asked Arlynn how she did.  Arlynn replied with some comments on her emotional state, but felt she was slowly learning to overcome her exam fright.  She added that it was comforting to have a familiar face in the room and thanked Telbron, much to his surprise.  Telbron chose that moment to ask about the white streak, but Arlynn claimed it had always been there.  He did not argue with her as he was exhausted.  They eventually decided to go for coffee, as Telbron hoped the caffeine might wake him up and did not want to risk consuming alcohol.  Arlynn’s only stipulation was that they could not go to the library, as they still would not serve her there after the mayhem she and her friends had caused during Orientation.  Telbron sympathized, citing the dirty looks he received when trying to check out books.  They eventually decided to visit the Firejolt Café, where they found Kai arguing with Mina over definitions of coffee drinks and sizes.

Eventually, a visibly frustrated Mina determined that Kai wanted a caramel macchiato and agreed to make it.  Arlynn asked for the same.  Kai tried to ask more questions to clear up some of his misunderstandings but Mina deliberately worked the espresso machine to drown him out.  Arlynn helpfully told him that Mina did not want to continue the conversation, which Telbron confirmed.  Mina brought over a beautifully decorated caramel macchiato, a caramel macchiato whose foam artwork was in the form of an extended middle finger and a black coffee for Arlynn, Kai and Telbron, respectively.  Kai paid for the coffee with enough for a generous tip and asked why the Skyfire Coffee definition of a macchiato differed from other cafes.  Mina gamely tried to explain until she saw Kai sipping his drink in such a way that it—or he—was giving her the finger and stormed away.

Kai asked whether his friends passed the exam.  By coincidence, flying creatures delivered the exam results.  Telbron opened his envelope and, much to his relief, saw he did better on the long form section.  Ultimately, he barely passed the exam.  Arlynn was too nervous and asked Kai to open the envelope for her. Kai was confused at how Arlynn got 102% on the multiple choice section.  He also saw she got 99% on the long form, losing some marks due to grammar mistakes.  After trying to interpret the grades, Arlynn took the exam results, read them for herself, declared they were terrible and threw the paper to the floor.  Kai and Telbron were confused.

A sudden clatter drew their attention to Rosie, who had gotten herself tangled in a chair and fell over after hearing the sexual innuendo that occasionally crept into their discussion.  After Kai helped extricate her, Rosie claimed she had LARP practice and ran away. Arlynn took notes on her grammatical mistakes while Kai tried to help.  To her surprise, Kai’s suggestions—based mostly on what he saw on his social media feeds—were rather insightful.  Arlynn invited him to study with her for the next exam, which would be covering otyughs.  They agreed to study outside by the reflecting pool.  Telbron decided to take a break from studying and considered checking on Nell once he’d recovered from the exam experience.

When they reached the reflecting pool, Arlynn told Kai she had wanted to try something that she’d been considering for some time.  She stared deep into Kai’s eyes… before pulling out a book and declaring she wanted to summon a familiar, though she was cryptic about what kind of familiar she desired.   She enlisted Kai’s help in arranging spell components, though a series of confusing instructions, before starting the ritual. After a while, the ground beneath her started to move and shift, throwing the eladrin into the air.  When she fell back down, a clear ooze lay in front of her.  It sat in a blob until Arlynn offered greetings, at which point it rippled into a mitten-like shape (with two thumbs) and made burbling noises.  Glitters and sparkles ran up its body.  Arlynn picked it up, complimented it on its beauty and told Kai they had made the ooze together.  She then turned red as the implications of her words sank home, quickly clarifying they had made the ooze as a collaborative effort.  Arlynn cuddled the ooze, though admonished it against getting her glasses dirty.

Kai learned Arlynn had named the ooze—or, to use her term, a non-Newtonian fluid—Oozac, a portmanteau between ooze and Issac.  Wanting to satisfy his hunger, he ate a poppyseed muffin that fell out of Arlynn’s bag, though he cleaned it with Prestidigitation first.

Arlynn then asked Kai if he wanted to do anything.  Kai agreed to show Arlynn—and Oozac—his new monkey.  Along the way, he asked if she did anything to her hair.  Arlynn admitted it was an unintentional side-effect she experienced while going through some things and leaned against her arm. Kai expressed sympathy and reminded her she could confide in her friends.

When they arrived at Kai’s room, they could not find the monkey.  Kai grabbed a vial of ink out of an open drawer and drew a banana on the wall. As she admired his artistry, Arlynn looked down at the open drawer and saw a drawing of Kai and a small being with pointed ears embracing.  She mistook the latter for herself and expressed her surprise.  Kai immediately turned around, kicked the drawer shut and pleaded ignorance.  Arlynn tried to open the drawer, only to pull off the handle and sprawl onto Kai’s bed. She asked again if the drawing in the drawer showed the two of them.  Kai evaded the question and pulled out a series of profiles he’d made of Arlynn since they first met.  Arlynn was shocked.  Kai shrugged it off modestly, claiming he was still working on the ears.  A stunned Arlynn admitted no one had ever drew her before.  Kai quietly suggested that no one had bothered to look.  The two leaned close…

…only to be interrupted when the door abruptly closed.  Kai was startled.  Arlynn wondered if they were about to kiss.  They hesitantly agreed they were open to the possibility.  Arlynn put her new ooze familiar in Kai’s drawer—next to the drawing.  Kai leaned back on the bed and invited Arlynn to join him.  She gamely climbed on top of him (episode 10).

Kai woke up to the sound of Arlynn snoring on his chest.  After a few minutes, he woke her up.  She apologized if she bothered him with her snoring.  Kai assured her he was used to snoring after growing up with his stepfather.  He asked if she needed coffee, but Arlynn wanted a shower instead.  Realizing she meant the two of them shower together, Kai warned that that might not be allowed.  Arlynn realized they’d already missed first class, so she guessed no one would see them.  After challenging Kai to live up to his reputation, she ran to the showers wearing nothing but Kai’s sheets. She passed Bageira in the hallway and, after entering the showers, briefly popped her head out to say hello.  Arlynn was pleased to discover the shower was empty and began singing until Kai joined her.

As Nell headed to find Telbron, the bathroom door opened and Arlynn stepped out.  She waved to Nell, accidentally dropping the towel and asked how she was doing.  Nell was so shocked by Arlynn’s nudity, she ran away.  Arlynn thought Nell had taken too many laxatives.

Arlynn and Kai agreed they had fun and decided to go have coffee… after changing into clothes that did not have any buttons bitten off.  She ran back to her room. Having concluded any distractions, the friends went for coffee.  Celdryn repeatedly cast Prestidigitation along the way to remove the magical glitter that had transferred to his school uniform, with limited success.

At the Firejolt Café, Arlynn, Celdryn, Kai and Nell sat at a table.  Arlynn fed Oozac bits of banana.  Celdryn watched the ooze familiar in fascination.  Curious, Shae hopped off Nell’s shoulder and waddled closer to Oozac.  After the familiars burbled at each other, Shae asked for some banana.  Arlynn gave Oozac some banana to give to Shae.  Oozac took the banana and gave it to Shae, only to cover it in ooze.  Shae alternated looks at Oozac, Nell and the banana but—after some encouragement from Nell—eventually devoured the banana.  Arlynn asked if Celdryn had met her new familiar yet and held them out to him.  Oozac reached out and grabbed Celdryn’s face.  Celdryn patted Oozac back and saw a thin sheen transfer to his hand.  Curious, Celdryn licked it and observed it tasted like cinnamon and banana.

As Mina got the students coffee, they saw Nora walk up with a huge stack of flyers and exchanged greetings.  Nora saw Celdryn’s haggard look and wondered if the students had a rough time with exams.  Kai said no, while Arlynn declared she had a great time last night.  When Celdryn expressed curiosity, Nell bluntly told him that Arlynn and Kai had sex.  Kai chose that opportunity to stand up, completely oblivious to the conversation.  He asked Celdryn if he wanted any coffee, giving him an impromptu shoulder massage.  Celdryn complimented Kai while Nell made various sexual innuendos.  An increasingly confused and disturbed Nora admitted she did not know what she had walked into and had only come by to invite them to the Rose Stage Festival that was taking place next week as she was a member of the Fine Arts Guild and helped paint their props.  While Nell mimed sexual acts, a flustered Nora explained the festival was an annual improv show and thought Kai might be interested as he was planning to go into Prismari.  Celdryn assured her that Kai was going into everyone.

Seeing Telbron, Celdryn offered his congratulations, as he mistakenly thought Kai had slept with everyone.  Telbron observed that the conversation topics had not changed.  A distressed Nora explained to Telbron that she was handing out flyers for the Rose Stage Festival next week.  Celdryn took one of her flyers and showed it to the others.  Kai encouraged Nora to go on stage and perform, but she explained that she was too busy working behind the scenes on projects like painting a very lifelike owlbear.  After Nora left, the friends agreed that they would like to participate in the festival.

Arlynn spent the next several evenings sleeping with Kai.

The following week, the friends went to the titular Rose Stage where the Festival took place.  They viewed the outdoor performing space, which consisted of a main stage—decorated with a huge rose—benches packed with spectators, an orchestra pit and an enclosed annex building behind the main stage.  Looking down, they saw Aurora and one of her bandmates, Rubina, in the orchestra pit.  They saw a few students in costume improvising an amusing, bawdy conversation on stage, with various props standing by for use near the stage’s edge.  In the shadows, they also saw Quentillius Antiphiun Melentor III, a member of the Playactors Drama Guild, directing the performance and sending new actors on stage from behind the scenes.

Kai and Celdryn wanted to go on stage.  Arlynn agreed to join them, but was leery at the prospect of going on stage.  When Kai reminded her she’d gone on stage at the beginning of the year, Arlynn admitted she had been uncharacteristically brave at the time.  She ultimately decided to watch from backstage and take things from there.  Nell decided to sit in the audience, as she had participated in enough drama recently, but promised to provide special effects if needed.  Telbron decided to give Nell her space and go backstage to provide sound effects with Thaumaturgy.

Arlynn, Celdryn, Kai and Telbron went backstage, where they were greeted by Quentillius.  When asked what he could do, Kai proclaimed he was the CEO of improv.  Quentillius approved his attitude and had the students pick names out of a box.  Arlynn repeated her request to stay behind, and was assured by Quentillius that she could help out with other matters like handling props.  Telbron volunteered his services with Thaumaturgy.  Kai then realized that Nell was not with them.  Telbron explained she was sitting this activity out.

Reaching into the hat, Kai picked the swashbuckling servant while Celdryn picked the bawdy noble.  When Arlynn asked if she could be an owlbear, Quentillius assigned her the role of a very hungry monster.  Kai and Celdryn grabbed whatever costumes and props they thought were appropriate.

The performers on stage—a furious-looking ship captain and a cat in a business suit—continued acting until Quentillius grabbed Kai and pushed him into the scene.  As the cat ran off stage, Kai began improvising with the captain.  They exchanged a few words—punctuated by Telbron’s Thaumaturgy—before the captain traded places with Celdryn.  Kai and Celdryn put on a performance that grew increasingly bawdy and laden with innuendo as Celdryn opened up his shirt and bared his chest, Nell cast Gust and Telbron cast Thaumaturgy.  The audience found Kai and Celdryn hilarious.

Quentillius then pushed Arlynn onto the stage.  Amidst Telbron’s sound effects, she announced that she was an owlbear… and appointed insurance adjuster for the ship.  Kai called out for an owlbear, prompting Nell to Wild Shape into the creature and join them on stage.  Quentillius ran out on stage and showed Nell a note, telling her she was to play an adult in a toddler’s body.  Nell adjusted her Wild Shape into a baby owlbear, while Arlynn claimed she was her senior colleague.  One of the other students wheeled the giant owlbear prop on stage, prompting Telbron to cast more applications of Thaumaturgy.  The audience seemed slightly disappointed by the change in pace, but still found the performance highly entertaining.

However, things took an unexpected turn.  Telbron had problem seeing from the backstage, but the other students saw something weird from the owlbear prop.  The roars of laughter from the audience turned to sounds of confusion and fear as monstrous shrieks began to come from the prop.  As the friends watched, the owlbear prop turned into an actual, enraged owlbear that charged towards them… (episode 11).

The students looked at the owlbear, who had just come to life.  Meanwhile, they saw paper birds transform into real birds that attacked the audience and people backstage.  Furthermore, they saw prop swords become real swords and started attacking students.  After wondering if any of the students behind him made that noise, Telbron got out from behind the stage.  He Hex’d the owlbear before casting Shatter.  The owlbear shook visibly and almost turned back to wood and paint for a moment before recovering and shrieking at Telbron. Kai ran to the bottom of the stage, shouted at the owlbear to draw its attention, then fired a Guiding Bolt.  The owlbear exploded into bits of wood that rained down on the students. Remembering her classes, Arlynn had obtained a muffin from her backpack.  She expressed dismay that Kai had destroyed the owlbear before she had had a chance to apply her lessons.  Nell, still in her owlbear form, gnawed on a piece of wood.  They watched as several professors entered the Rose Stage and began dispatching the remaining hostile props.

Nell saw the bottom of the platform was covered in black goo.  Dropping her Wild Shape, she motioned her friends over.  Arlynn came over to investigate, sullenly eating her muffin.  She gave Kai half a muffin at his request.  As they looked, a professor hopped up behind them and asked what had occurred.  Nell explained the various props came to life.  Telbron said he didn’t see anything backstage.  The professor noticed the black goo and asked what it was.  Nell explained that they’d encountered the goo throughout their year.  Celdryn scooped some of the goo with a dagger, which he handed to the professor at her request.  The students cited various encounters with the black goo, causing the professor to realize they were the ‘underclassmen’ that the other faculty had referred to.  As the students watched, she pulled out a flask and poured some of its contents on the goo, causing it to bubble.  The black hue turned to smoke and vanished, leaving behind a semi-opaque mucus-yellow substance.  She rubbed the substance between her fingers, tasted it and declared it was what they expected.

The professor asked why the students had never brought the ooze to the attention of the faculty.  Nell explained that Mak, from the Fantastical Horticulture Club, had been investigating the ooze.  She and her friends had assumed he had informed the other professors.   Totsky darkly guessed the Witherbloom professors had kept it under wraps for fear that others would learn their supply had been tainted.  She told the students that the substance was eldritch balm, which originated from an underground spring in the Sedgemoor swamp and was used to magically treat and strengthen a wide variety of objects.  The black ooze that the students had found throughout the year was actually eldritch balm that had been tainted in some way.  Totsky suspected that the spring had been tainted in some way and wanted the students to investigate, but realized they had no reason to enter Sedgemoor on their own as they were only first-year students.  Instead, she suggested they offer to collect magical ingredients and samples from Sedgemoor for Professor Lang, as she commonly assigned such tasks to first-year students who showed promise.  Totsky gave the students the flask she had used and directed them to find the spring, which was in the northwest area of the swamp.  If the spring looked unnatural in any way, she told them to empty the flask’s contents—holy water—into the spring.  Arlynn would end up carrying the holy water for safekeeping.

The professor decided to consult with the other professors and help the students calm down.  Before she left, she gave them her Cloak of Protection in case the students needed it.  Nell eventually accepted as she could not cast Mage Armour.  After some discussion, the friends decided to put off their next adventure in favour of studying, as their final exam was the next day. Kai and Arlynn decided to study together.  As they walked away, Arlynn reached over and held Kai’s hand.  They talked about various things, including the size of their hands, what their hands could hold and how the tainted eldritch balm could seemingly bring inanimate objects to life.

The next day, the students took their final exam, which focused on otyughs. As this was their final exam, Professor Lang marked them then and there.  Once she had finished, she had the students line up to receive their paper. Arlynn did fantastic on the multiple choice section, but her critical thinking needed work as she’d failed the written short essay.

Professor Lang told Arlynn and Nell they would have to retake the exam.   She also offered them the opportunity of retrieving magical samples from Sedgemoor instead, explaining she normally granted this task to her most promising students.  After Arlynn and Nell chose to visit Sedgemoor, Professor Lang wrote passes for Arlynn, Nell and their friends.  Nell apologized and promised she’d do better… or prove her parents right.  Lang expressed her belief that Nell would prove everyone who doubted her wrong.  While Lang wrote the passes, Arlynn squeezed Nell’s hand and gave her some words of encouragement.

Lang warned them that they might need galoshes and directed them to a shed that contained tools suitable for harvesting magical ingredients.  Nell took the passes and handed them to her friends.  Kai was confused as he had little sleep the night before, but eventually remembered why they wanted to go to Sedgemoor.  Telbron made a remark about Kai’s memory, to which Kai cruelly made a reference to his previous failures.   Celdryn asked how everyone did on their exams.  Arlynn and Nell claimed they did okay.

After gathering whatever supplies they thought they might need, the students made their way to Sedgemoor.  Celdryn cast Mage Armour.  They got a guidebook of things to look out for.  Once they got to the swamp, Celdryn pulled a giant elk from his Bag of Tricks.  After some thought, he named the elk Antony.  Kai and Arlynn thought it was pronounced Anthony.  The students saw two broken-down docks and many islets to the north.  Celdryn, Telbron and Arlynn climbed on top of the giant elk while Nell flew above.  Kai decided to scout ahead and jumped to the central island, before Nell could cast Pass Without Trace.

The central islet had two wooden research sheds with a tree stump between them.  Kai landed and turned around in triumph, only to here a noise behind him.  Turning back, he saw two wargs emerge from behind the tree stump, their skin peeling off their faces.  They began stalking Kai.  The other students on the elk (or flying) took advantage of the distraction.

Celdryn moved up on the elk and Twinned Dragon’s Breath, casting the spell on himself and Antony.  They breathed fire on the wargs. Arlynn cast Chromatic Orb gainst a warg, poisoning the monstrosity.  Her familiar, Oozac, blinded the warg with ink. Nell flew over the wargs, activated her Symbiotic Entity and summoned her Halo of Spores, which had no effect.  She then cast Shillelagh on her quarterstaff. Kai rushed up and punched the unpoisoned, blinded warg twice.  It crumpled down into a heap.  Seeing its comrade collapse, the warg began talking.  As he spoke Undercommon, Telbron understood a few words ‘Power… evil… mine.”  The warg then Disengaged and dove into the swampy waters. Thinking the warg was going for reinforcements, Telbron blindly fired an Eldritch Blast.

Shortly after, Celdryn experienced a Wild Magic surge as the cold of the swamp hit him.  His clothes shrank to half their size.  Celdryn was embarrassed.  Kai thought he saw a previously hidden piercing.  The giant elk ran after the submerged warg.  After Celdryn and the elk breathed fire on it, the warg died and sank to the bottom. Nell admonished her friends to be quiet.  Telbron pointed out the warg might have been trying to summon reinforcements.  Due to her lifetime growing up in Strixhaven, Arlynn knew the swamp was generally safe.  The fact that wargs were here, though, meant something was seriously wrong. The party then split up.  Arlynn and Nell investigated the northernmost research building, while Kai and Celdryn investigated the southern one.

Meanwhile, Nell tried to help Arlynn investigate, cursing at how her friends were being so loud and unstealthy in a swamp full of potentially hostile dangers.  Arlynn found two Potions of Healing, handing one to Nell.

The students reconvened.  Nell cautioned the others to be quiet after Celdryn was loud.  Speculating about thing and Nell thought swamp was tainted.  Telbron finally revealed what he’d gleaned from the warg.  Celdryn then asked if anyone was good collecting plant samples, explaining he had a sample kit that might help.  Nell offered to trade the Potion of Healing for the kit, but Celdryn encouraged her to keep the potion as he felt she would need it more.  Celdryn then pointed to some plants and wondered if that was what they were looking for.  Kai and Nell realized it was, based on the artwork and Fantastical Horticulture club meetings, respectively.

Seeing a few more islets, Arlynn, Celdryn and Telbron rode Arlynn over to the northeast islet.  Kai followed by jumping, while Nell flew over.  As soon as the elk landed, though, several snakes darted out from underneath a rock and bit Antony, ignoring Nell’s Halo of Spores.

Nell expressed her irritation over the snakes.  Kai, having just arrived, had no idea what she was talking about.  Looking at the dirt released by the vines, she found a root that her guidebook said was quite useful and took a sample.  Kai was confused at why they were gathering samples.  Arlynn or Nell vaguely said they had reasons.

The students decided to go to the southernmost island.  This time, Kai chose to join the others on the elk.  However, as soon as the elk touched a hoof down, it began sinking.  The elk hastily reared back, sending Celdryn flying into the nearby water.  He clambered back on, lamenting that things should have been better considering he’d lost his pants and was now wet.  An oblivious Kai gave him a pep talk, which Celdryn rewarded with a muddy pat on the back.  Telbron and Nell found that very amusing.  Seeing that Kai did not appreciate the humour, Celdryn cleaned him off with Prestidigitation.  Telbron still seemed to find the situation amusing, even after an irritated Kai shoved him off Antony and into the mud.  Nell responded by using Druidcraft to put nice flowers over Telbron and stinky flowers over Kai.  Arlynn and Celdryn felt Kai had gone a little too far, with Celdryn pulling Telbron back on the giant elk and cleaning him off with another application of Prestidigitation.

After enjoying a short rest, the students (and Antony) then moved north.  As they travelled, they noticed the water getting darker and thicker.  Seeing a steady burbling in between two islets, they guessed that was the spring they were looking for.  The elk was visibly hesitant, slowing to a stop before they reached the spring.  The students hopped off and continued on foot, but failed to notice anything.  To make matters worse, Celdryn experienced another Wild Magic Surge, causing rocks and random things to bounce around him.  Kai noticed a waterlogged notebook with a green jewel on the cover bouncing towards him and his friend, and felt weaker and weaker as it approached.  Suddenly afraid, Kai backed up into the water.

Meanwhile, Arlynn felt the spring was being obstructed by something in the water.  A giant scorpion emerged, dripping black ooze, and advanced towards them. Nell activated Symbiotic Entity and cast Shillelagh on her quarterstaff. The elk charged the scorpion and landed a solid hit, flipping it on its back. Celdryn cast Dragon’s Breath on himself and Antony before breathing lightning on the scorpion. Telbron Hexed the scorpion, but missed with Eldritch Blast. The scorpion righted itself, seriously wounding and grappling Celdryn with its pincers, but failed to pierce him with its stinger. Arlynn cast Chromatic Orb, hitting the scorpion with acid.  She then Phase Stepped back next to Kai and charmed the scorpion.  She then had Oozac hand a Potion of Healing to Kai. Kai did not feel well, but gathered his strength and cast Rime’s Binding Ice, aiming carefully to avoid Nell.  Nell cast Wither and Bloom, hurting the scorpion and healing Celdryn. Antony tried to breathe fire on the scorpion, but it dodged most of the damage.  Celdryn breathed fire as well, dealing the killing blow.  He cursed as he fell from the dying scorpion’s grasp into the swampy water (again).

Nell urged Arlynn to pour the holy water into the spring before anything else showed up.  Celdryn asked Kai what was wrong.  A haggard looking Kai asked where the book was.  Hearing his mumbled reply, Celdryn grabbed the book and threw it as far away as he could.  Kai faintly thanked him, claiming the book must have had an evil aura or something.

Kai managed to stand up, despite Celdryn’s continued concerns over his wellbeing.  He slapped himself back into a more alert state, only to realize to his dismay that he’d splashed himself with swamp water.  Nell tried to help by dropping scorpion goo on his head, prompting Telbron to start laughing again.  Arlynn ignored–or missed–Nell’s jibe about Kai putting goop in Arlynn’s hair and used Mage Hand to pour the holy water into the spring.  They could see the radiance cleanse the spring and clear the water.  As they looked around, the edges of the surrounding islets exuding the balm that Totsky was talking about.  Celdryn tried to investigate the source of the ooze and found an empty leather satchel.  He also saw various books and items bounce around him.  More importantly, the cursed book began bouncing towards Celdryn, as if caught in a current.  As soon as Kai saw the book coming near, he began wading through the water away from it.  Telbron grabbed the book and opened it, noting it was bound in soft leather and filled with waxed, waterproof paper.  He saw that many words were washed away, but the remainder was written in some kind of language he could not read.  Given that he could read most languages, he guessed it was some kind of cipher.  His only clue was an ‘M’ on the front page.

Celdryn, Nell and Telbron thought the ‘M’ looked the same as the package they found in the teacher’s offices of Captain Dapplewing’s Manor.  They found that suspicious, especially when Telbron recalled the chest also had some of the black ooze.  Celdryn asked Kai if he was feeling any better, then took the book from Telbron.  He put the book away in a bag, after remembering that his shirt was now too tight to fit anything else underneath, and asked if that made Kai feel better.  Kai’s evasive response indicated he was still unwell.  Celdryn admitted he thought the book might be important, but did not want to take it if it made Kai feel unwell.  Nell wondered why the book affected Kai but not anyone else.  Kai was forced to admit that he was allergic to emeralds and they made him weak.  Celdryn pulled the emerald off and sought clarification that putting it in the bag still affected him.  Kai confirmed that he would notice if any emeralds came within fifteen or twenty feet of him.  Celdryn then threw the emerald away and returned the book to Telbron.

Nell declared that they had accomplished what they set out to do and that Arlynn and Nell could return the magical ingredients to Professor Lang without anyone else accompanying them.  Celdryn, Kai and Telbron saw no reason to question her motives.  Celdryn made Antony spit out the swamp flora it was eating and had the giant elk give the students a ride back to campus.

Arlynn and Nell went back to Professor Lang’s office and gave her the magical samples.  Nell casually mentioned that they had some holy water and purified the spring.  Lang was surprised to hear Totsky was right and alarmed to hear the number of hostile encounters they had.  As Nell and Arlynn walked back, Arlynn asked if they were okay, considering Arlynn and Kai had gotten involved.  Nell assured her they were okay, given that she was with Telbron.  Nell then asked Arlynn for luck as she had to have an awkward conversation with Telbron.  She also thought she’d need drinks afterwards, depending on the outcome of the talk.  Arlynn wished Nell good luck, then bought a keg of alcohol as she’d taken Nell’s request seriously.

Arlynn and Nell proceeded to get drunk, posting various photos to the group chat.  Telbron, an unexpectedly curvy and feminine Celdryn and Kai eventually joined them and they all enjoyed the rest of the night together. The next morning, the friends received an invitation to dinner at Captain Dapplewing’s Manor.  That evening, they met various professors, received several gifts   feted as heroes of the Strixhaven campus (episode 12).

## Personality

* Socially awkward and extremely literal-minded

## Appearance

Arlynn is a orange-hued eladrin girl who is approximately 5'2" in height. She often braids her red-orange hair.

## Character Build

* Known ASIs/Feats: Strixhaven Initiate
* Known Spells:
	+ Cantrips: Prestidigitation, Thunderclap
	+ 1st Level: Catapult\*, Chromatic Orb, Mage Armor, Sleep

*\* = Strixhaven Initiate Feat*

## Trivia

* Mothers work as librarians at Strixhaven University
* Has a habit of spelling out her first (and sometimes last) name
* Accidentally became involved in Nell's harem anime in episode 1.
* Took Magical Physiology, Basic Magical Auras, Beginning Computational Magic and Inkomancy for Beginners in first year.
* Between episodes 9 and 10, Arlynn transitioned from her autumn form to her winter form, partly in response to the shock of seeing Celdryn’s violent behaviour. However, neither she nor her owlin parents had any knowledge or experience with this aspect of eladrin, so Arlynn simply assumed she was sick.  By the time she returned to classes and exams, she had mostly switched back to her autumn form.