diff --git a/internal/plugin/adventure_scheduler.go b/internal/plugin/adventure_scheduler.go
index 0661818..d66de9d 100644
--- a/internal/plugin/adventure_scheduler.go
+++ b/internal/plugin/adventure_scheduler.go
@@ -495,6 +495,12 @@ func (p *AdventurePlugin) midnightReset() error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("reset daily actions after 3 attempts: %w", resetErr)
 	}
 
+	// Clear the one-day pet morning-defense buff so it re-rolls fresh each
+	// morning (briefing or overworld DM) instead of leaking permanently.
+	if err := resetAllPetMorningDefense(); err != nil {
+		slog.Error("adventure: failed to reset pet morning defense", "err", err)
+	}
+
 	// Prune expired buffs
 	if err := pruneAdvExpiredBuffs(); err != nil {
 		slog.Error("adventure: failed to prune expired buffs", "err", err)
diff --git a/internal/plugin/dnd_expedition_cycle.go b/internal/plugin/dnd_expedition_cycle.go
index fa2df6d..ddc7c2f 100644
--- a/internal/plugin/dnd_expedition_cycle.go
+++ b/internal/plugin/dnd_expedition_cycle.go
@@ -300,6 +300,22 @@ func (p *AdventurePlugin) deliverBriefing(e *Expedition, now time.Time) error {
 	}
 
 	if uid := id.UserID(e.UserID); uid != "" {
+		// The legacy overworld morning DM is skipped while underground, so
+		// its 25% morning pet event fires here instead, granting the one-day
+		// defense buff (reset at midnight via resetAllPetMorningDefense).
+		// Pet *arrival* is handled separately on the emergence seam below —
+		// not queued here — so we only roll the morning event.
+		if pet, perr := loadPetState(uid); perr == nil {
+			if petEvent := petMorningEvent(pet); petEvent != "" {
+				if char, cerr := loadAdvCharacter(uid); cerr == nil {
+					char.PetMorningDefense = true
+					if serr := saveAdvCharacter(char); serr != nil {
+						slog.Warn("expedition: save pet morning defense", "user", uid, "err", serr)
+					}
+				}
+				body = fmt.Sprintf("🐾 *%s*\n\n%s", petEvent, body)
+			}
+		}
 		if err := p.SendDM(uid, body); err != nil {
 			slog.Warn("expedition: send briefing DM", "user", uid, "err", err)
 		}
diff --git a/internal/plugin/player_meta.go b/internal/plugin/player_meta.go
index b92cfb7..2304eef 100644
--- a/internal/plugin/player_meta.go
+++ b/internal/plugin/player_meta.go
@@ -909,6 +909,19 @@ func resetAllPlayerMetaDailyActions() error {
 	return err
 }
 
+// resetAllPetMorningDefense clears the one-day pet morning-defense buff for
+// every player. The buff is a fresh morning grant (25% roll in the briefing /
+// overworld DM), so it must not survive past the midnight rollover. The flag
+// lives inside pet_flags_json (see petFlagsJSON), so patch that key in place;
+// only rows where it's currently set are touched.
+func resetAllPetMorningDefense() error {
+	_, err := db.Get().Exec(`
+		UPDATE player_meta
+		   SET pet_flags_json = json_set(pet_flags_json, '$.morning_defense', json('false'))
+		 WHERE json_extract(pet_flags_json, '$.morning_defense') = 1`)
+	return err
+}
+
 // DeathState mirrors player_meta's death-state columns. Phase L5e ports
 // these fields off AdvCharacter (gogobee_legacy_migration.md §7.3 L5e).
 // Mutation surface is large (~50 saveAdvCharacter sites touch death