Moonbound Academy: The Night of the Quill

Overview
You are first-year students at Moonbound Academy, a floating magical school perched above the coast. Founders Day culminates in a grand ward ceremony, but the Moonbound Quill—the artifact that powers the campus wards—has vanished from the Vault of Echoes. If not recovered by the seventh bell, wild magic erupts across the campus and distorts reality until dawn.

Hook
The Headmistress tasks your small team with retrieving the Quill. Clues are scattered across four campus zones, and rival students, mischievous spirits, and a shifting ward grid complicate the search. Time pressure and campus-wide pranks keep the pace brisk.

Locations and Encounters
- Observatory: Read a star sigil map to reveal the Quill’s last known location. Skill challenge: Arcana/Astronomy vs. time. Failure triggers a minor astral anomaly.
- Alchemy Wing: Brew a temporary wards potion to access a sealed corridor; a mini-puzzle using elemental reagents determines a sigil piece.
- Library of Echoes: Diplomatic or stealth approach to a sentient spellbook that witnessed the thief. Success yields a confession and a sigil shard.
- Dormitory Row: Interact with a prank-loving student body rep, resolve via social checks or a harmless skirmish to gain a final clue.

Climax
All clues converge in a hidden chamber beneath the Library. A disaffected student uses the Quill to rewrite wards into a pocket dimension, attempting to leave Moonbound Academy vulnerable. A short fight or clever ritual rebinds the Quill and dispels the ruse.

Resolution and Rewards
Return the Quill and restore the wards just in time for the festival. Characters earn ~300 XP each. Reward options include a Moonbound Token (advantage on one Arcana check) and the ability to cast a 1st-level spell once per short rest via a temporary spell-slot-augmenting feature. Founders Day ends with cheers as magic returns to normal.