The ground becomes wet and impossible to find firm footing. Scattered throughout the marsh are old peasant cottages, their walls covered with black mildew, their roofs mostly caved in. These decrepit dwellings seem to hunker down in the mire, as though they have long since given up on escaping the thick mud. Everywhere you look, black clouds of flies dart about, hungry for blood.

U1 middle of map. You approach this cluster of ruined cottages separated by low stone walls. Finally, firm footing.
(Perception or investigation to loot the cottages)

(looking at u3) to the west you see a strange treehouse.

(looking at u2) the remains of the burgomaster's mansion

(looking at u6) you see what looks like someone holding a lantern on the other side of the river.

Karasha seems at ease traveling the road and arriving at Berez, even the flies don't seem to bother her. She looked around as they arrived - it seemed as if nature was taking back the village

....as it always does with time.  Her gaze went to the treehouse and the person holding the lantern. "We may have company" She muttered as she grasped her new staff made from the tree that once held her.

Skuldja felt a bit at home walking in the marsh. "This marsh reminds me of home a bit, damn these flies though." She smacks a fly on her arm, successfully squashing it. She then brandished her greatsword, at the sight of the person holding the lantern, and began approaching them.

Lando looked about, and noted the two prominent structures.  It was the mansion that they needed to get to, but the tree house was likely a watch tower.  Fortunately they had watchers of their own.  He addressed the six wereravens, "I'd like you to scout for us.  Go to the far edge of the cottages so as not to give up our position, then fly a sweep around the area.  Check the tree house for lookouts, and see if you can get better intelligence on the mansion.  Also look out for reinforcements," he indicated the lantern across the river, "hopefully they're too far away."

While he waited for the scouts to return, he looked around for useful equipment ie. loot.

09:34, Today: Lando rolled 14 using 1d20+4.  investigation.

The wereravens nod to Lando, shapeshift, dropping their clothes and things right where they stood, and fly off.

You approach the lantern, U6...

A dozen moss-covered menhirs form a near-perfect circle in the spongy earth. These weathered stones range in height from 15 to 18 feet. A couple of them lean inward as if to share some great secret with their inscrutable neighbors. A wary-looking peasant woman lurks behind the tallest stone, a rusty lantern clutched in one gnarled hand and a dagger clutched in the other.

"You are friends of the Keepers of the Feather? I saw you with them, the wereravens. I saw them fly away before you came this way. I am a friend of the Martikovs. I am Muriel. We cannot get close to the hut, for the scarecrows. They keep us away.

These stones have existed before time. There must be some purpose. Some meaning to them, but no one knows. The information was lost to time. Perhaps Strahd himself does not know."

The circle is 100 feet across, and the menhirs are spaced apart at regular intervals. The stones located to the north, west, south, and east are taller than the other eight stones, which have weatherworn glyphs carved into them that represent different animals. Characters who inspect the smaller menhirs can discern the following animal shapes carved into them: bear, elk, hawk, goat, owl, panther, raven, and wolf.

Karasha and Zrakrud can sense that powerful gods once blessed this site, and that it still holds some measure of power. They can also sense one of its properties, namely that creatures within the circle can’t be targeted by any divination magic or perceived through magical scrying sensors.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:48, Tue 11 Jan 2022.

Skuldja eyes the woman, suspicious of her, with her sword ready. "Hello Muriel... You're not the Baba Yaga lady are you? Yes, I like the Raven people."

Zrakrud had remained quiet, his attention to the surrounding area, the swampy ground that was quiet odd to him. Every once in awhile he reached down to touch the ground. As Lando sent the wereravens off and began searching he nodded in agreement and began to aid in the search.

---

OOC:
Investigation: 19


11:53, Today: Zrakrud rolled 19 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 14.  Investigation.

---

Zrakrud eyes look over the woman as he studies her a moment, then the power from the menhirs stones draws his attention. His attention shifts once again to the woman, what is she hiding if she is within their circle. Leaning in close to Lando he whispers softly in his ear

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
"Do not trust what you see. I cannot say but the magic is palpable here and it protects against divination. The ability to discern truths."

---

Lando nodded slightly to Zrakrud. He listened to the woman with the critical ear of one used to the honeyed deceptions of politians.  Did she seem to be one who could be trusted?

09:39, Today: Lando rolled 21 using 1d20+5.  insight.

Karasha went to the stones, eyes narrowed as she loomed at them. The shape, the design...it meant something to her, but it was from her grasp.

...like so much if her life right now.

The touched the stone closest to her, one engraved with the owl, and closed her eyes, feeling the frustration flow from her. "The power is subtle, but I feel it....it's old. Familiar."

She looks at the woman and nods. "Druid's back home used such circles to focus their power - even some clerics dedicated to nature. It fills my heart to see something familiar."

Insight check: she seems to be telling the truth and is who she says she is.
Investigation check: You find nothing of value among the ruins. The menhirs do not give up their secrets to you. Perhaps it is as Muriel said: not even Strahd knows.

Muriel shakes her head, "No, no, no. I am not Baba Lysaga. She lives there in the hut and I spy on her, somehow I have managed to stay undetected. She has captured many of my kind, trapped in cages. If you could get close and free them they will all be able to help, but I have not been able to do it."

Just then you hear terrible squawking of ravens coming from the area you sent the wereravens to investigate. Then just as quickly as it began all is silent.

Muriel puts her hand to her mouth, "No. She is hunting. She just captured more of us. The ones you came here with."

Karasha had a hard look on her face. She hated any form of imprisonment almost as much as undead. Her hands clenched and unclenched at the mere thought. "Freeing them sounds a just cause in my opinion. And this Baba Lysaga, if she hold prisoners, needs to be taught that life, like nature, can not be restrained."

Zrakrud didn't trust this one, but could they trust this Baba Lysaga if that truly who was over there? Either way did it matter? They would have to free the ones they came here with. "We should scout and see how they were captured if they were captured."

"Thank you for this information, Mistress Muriel. It seems we have common cause, and we will try to free your people," he said as much to reassure the others as to comfort Muriel

Addressing his companions he said, "Let's scout this out stealthily, like Zrakrud suggested.  I say we should spread out a bit so if one of us is spotted someone could still get to the cages undetected, and free the others."

He cautiously sneaked out in the direction of the hut. What he kept to himself was that he wanted to know more about this Baba Lysaga, and what he could learn from her about Strahd.


14:53, Today: Lando rolled 16 using 1d20+5.  stealth.

Where is the hut?  can we see the cages from here?  I like visual references, it helps me focus.

Skuldja spreads out like Lando says. She really circles around so that she is approaching the hut at a 90 degree angle to where Lando is approaching it. She enters the hut if she can.

22:31, Today: Skuldja Blackrazor rolled 22 using 1d20+2.  Stealth.

Nat 20 on sneaky, yay!

Zrakrud nodded to Lando and while the others began to spread out and begin approaching the commotion he began an incantation. His fingers weaved a pattern of protection about him, as his incantation came to a close, a thin layer of ice began to form about him encasing him in a protective film that flashed brightly for a moment for before disappearing. With his natural talents he then began to follow the lead of the others, circling towards the commotion giving a bit of space between the others, but close enough he could support any of them.

---

OOC: Mage Armour (8 Hour Duration)

10:11, Today: Zrakrud rolled 10 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 7. Stealth.

Note: Mask of the Wild: You can attempt to hide even when you are only lightly obscured by foliage, heavy rain, falling snow, mist, and other natural phenomena

Zrakrud nodded to Lando and while the others began to spread out and begin approaching the commotion he began an incantation. His fingers weaved a pattern of protection about him, as his incantation came to a close, a thin layer of ice began to form about him encasing him in a protective film that flashed brightly for a moment for before disappearing. With his natural talents he then began to follow the lead of the others, circling towards the commotion giving a bit of space between the others, but close enough he could support any of them.

---

OOC: Mage Armour (8 Hour Duration)

10:11, Today: Zrakrud rolled 10 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 7. Stealth.

Note: Mask of the Wild: You can attempt to hide even when you are only lightly obscured by foliage, heavy rain, falling snow, mist, and other natural phenomena

Karasha looked around the area, wondering how best to help. That's when she spotted it - a rat, scurrying for a tree. All of a sudden, she has flashes in her mind, memories long dormant of herself in animal form.

The woman smiled as she looked at the others. "I'll get as close as I can and see what I can find."

With that she closed her eyes and reached into herself. In a small flash, the elf was gone, in her place a small brown rat.

The rat looked up, squeeked and ran off to scout ahead

Hut: https://5e.tools/img/adventure/CoS/101-cos10-02.jpg
(the floating skull reminds me of the bad guy from Sonic the Hedgehog. try not to laugh.)

You spread out and stay 50+ feet away from the hut, scouting it out.

Someone has built a ramshackle wooden hut on the stump of what was once an enormous tree. The rotting roots of the stump thrust up from the mire like the legs of a gigantic spider.

An open doorway is visible on one side of the hut, beneath which floats the upside-down, hollowed-out skull of a giant. Flanking the hut's doorway are two iron cages that dangle like hideous ornaments from the eaves. Scores of ravens are trapped in each one. They squawk and flutter their wings excitedly as you approach, but no noise can be heard from the cages.

Skuldja continues to sneak right up to the front door, the swamp is her natural habitat after all. But regardless, a voice cackles out from inside, "You think you're so sneaky, sneaky??? I can smell you. Hehehehe. Don't be afraid. Come in. Come in."

The door opens and purple smoke rolls out.

"I just caught a few more wereravens and am finishing up my bath, but I don't mind. Come on in. Hehehehee."

As the door opens, the rat scurried in quickly and under a table for cover. She sat there, listening to the woman.

Skuldja looks shocked that the woman can smell her with her mouth becoming agape as she stared into the now open doorway. She then takes a moment to lift her arm and smell her armpit. Then she turned her attention back to the doorway and entered the room, her sword ready to do some swinging and a glare on her face. "Let the birdy people go."

Zrakrud was not interested in going inside though the others seem to be ready to do so. He moved a bit closer to support Skuldja but if she went inside he was unsure how he could aid her.

If Skuldja could keep Baba Lysaga occupied maybe the rest of them could free the captives.  He would have preferred to be the one talking, but things didn't work out that way.  He crept up to the cage on the south side examining it for a way to open it.


09:44, Today: Lando rolled 24 using 1d20+4.  investigation.

Karasha is inside the hut, the sizes and shapes of things are so different from how they should appear to a human, but her mind is able to comprehend it.

Skuldja walks in bravely. Zrakrud can get a decent look at the room by sneaking near the door, the farthest anyone could be from him is 20'.

The hut is fifteen feet on a side and packed with old furniture, including a wooden cot, a wicker cabinet, a slender wardrobe, a wooden table, a stool, a barrel-topped wooden chest reinforced with brass bands, and an iron tub stained with blood. The tub is empty.

In the middle of the room is a ghastly wooden crib with a small, angelic child sitting in it. All the furnishings except for the crib are bolted to the floor. Beneath the crib, green light seeps up through cracks between the rotting floorboards.

The witch isn't here. Or...maybe invisible?

"heheheheeeee. Fell for the oldest trick in the book." Karasha looks up in time to see the witch's claws swiping down at her, attempting to snatch her. Karasha Dex save dc15 to escape Baba Lysaga's clutches.

Skuldja and Zrakrud see the witch now, bent over the table trying to catch a rat.

---

Lando scoffs. The cages aren't even locked, merely just latched in a way that a bird would never be able to lift it. He could easily open them both if he wanted to. The birds flutter and caw at him, but no sound comes out from the cage, clearly some sort of lingering silence magic. Skipping lock picking due to your nat20.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:25, Thu 03 Feb 2022.

"Prepare to die evil witch!" Skuldja, very angrily, recklessly charges the evil old hag with her greatsword and starts to go into a frenzy.

19:36, Today: Skuldja Blackrazor rolled 15 using 2d20+5, dropping the lowest dice only.  Reckless Attack on Baba Lasaga.

19:37, Today: Skuldja Blackrazor rolled 14 using 2d6+5.  Damage.

Raging, attacking recklessly, and going into a frenzy.

Lando indicated to the ravens to stay calm, and opened the first cage.  As he crossed to the other, he saw Skuldja attack the witch, and called to her, "You can do it!  I have confidence in you!"

Action: open the first cage

Bonus action: bardic inspiration to Skuldja 1d6

Move to the north cage

Zrakrud's mouth dropped as Skuldja charged into the room. No thought no planning with the others, just a charge. Zrakrud begins a slight hum and chant in response to Skuldja charging further into the room. He needed to see what would happen before he would attack further, but he was prepared to defend himself.

---

OOC: Begin Bladesong

(Waiting on Karasha's save to know how to proceed. Stand by.)

Even as the woman grabs her, the rat nips the woman's hand, not hard enough to hurt her, but enough to loosen her grip and get away. The rat scurried away out of sight

Baba Lysaga drops the rat, and turns in time to see the greatsword slice down at her. It strikes true, but does not cleave through her, merely barely putting an inch deep gash between her neck and shoulder. She hisses and mutters a strange and dark language, and Skuldja sees white and is unable to move.


Power word stun. Skuldja is automatically stunned.
Skuldja make a Constitution saving throw DC17 at the end of each of your turns. On a successful save, this stunning effect ends.

---

ROUND 2
BABA LYSAGA AC15
HP-14

Karasha turned to see the sword bite the woman with limited effect and knew the warrior was in trouble. She reverted into her form, already the tatto of a vine growing from her arm like a whip, she snapped it towards her. She was concerned for her friend, and missed the woman. Even as she did, she called out.

"COME"

---

<OOC: Bonus Action - drop shapechange

Action - Cast thorn whip

Karasha rolled 5 using 1d20+4.  Thorn whip.

Nope.

Misc Action - call to others>

Skuldja stops roaring and then just stands there, her tongue hanging out and drooling a little.

03:42, Today: Skuldja Blackrazor rolled 12 using 1d20+4.  Con Save, DC 17.

Zrakrud swirls and chants in rythym as he completes an incantation he thrusts his mind towards Baba Lysaga

---

OOC: Cast Tasha's Mind Whip, DC 13

10:09, Today: Zrakrud rolled 16 using 3d6 with rolls of 6,5,5.  Mind Whip.

quote:

You psychically lash out at one creature you can see within range. The target must make an Intelligence saving throw. On a failed save, the target takes 3d6 psychic damage, and it can't take a reaction until the end of its next turn. Moreover, on its next turn, it must choose whether it gets a move, an action, or a bonus action; it gets only one of the three. On a successful save, the target takes half as much damage and suffers none of the spell's other effects.

Lando freed the last of the wereravens.  When he looked back at Skuldja, she was just standing there; she wasn't killing the witch like she's supposed to.  She's the front line fighter! that's what she gets paid for!  Of course she wasn't getting payed, but he wasn't going to tell her that.  Well, he had freed the wereravens, so his job was done, he could just leave. But his conscience nagged at him; he was going to have to go in there and help his friend.  Silently he cursed his soft heart, resolutely he turned toward the cottage, and started approaching.

Action: opening the second cage

Movement: waiting on movement til next turn

Zrakrud feels his ability unable to fully affect the witch's mind. He hears laugher whispering in reply.

The ravens pour out of the cages, immediately flying away to escape this wretched place.

One of the ravens turns into an older woman, frail, half-starved, and naked. She pulls her gray and black hair out of her face and nods to Lando, then shouts at the fleeing ravens. There is something strong in her, despite the weakness of her physical being.

"Come back! Come back! Take your vengeance!"
Half of the ravens immediately obey, turning and flooding into the hut to swarm around the witch.

They bite and claw at her, but she only laughs. Laughs. Laughs.

KABOOM. A bright streak blossoms with a low roar into an explosion of flame.
Half of the ravens drop dead.


Karasha make a Dexterity dc17 saving throw.
Skuldja I highly recommend you roll that inspiration and apply it to round 2, if you do get a 5 or 6 you will get to make a dex save against the fireball. If you don't you automatically fail.
A target takes 25 fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

---

ROUND 3
BABA LYSAGA AC15
HP-29
INSIDE THE HUT: Baba Lysaga, Karasha, Skuldja, 2 swarms of ravens at half health.
OUTSIDE: Zrakrud, Lando,
Female Wereraven Leader AC13 HP 35

Lando walked stoically up to the cottage and leaned nonchalantly against the doorway.  "hey there, good lookin',  there's no need for all this fuss."  He tried not to gag on the words.  Hopefully the witch was too distracted to notice.  Maybe the witch will be so busy laughing that they can sneak away.

21:08, Today: Lando rolled 12 using 1d20+7.  persuasion.
21:10, Today: Lando rolled 14 using 1d20+7.  persuasion.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:18, Tue 22 Feb 2022.

Karasha paled as soon as she saw the smile from the woman, then all she felt was the fire....the burning fire. The elf screamed as she fell back, from the explosiona nd pain of the fire. She lay there, burnt, moaning in pain.

---

<OOC: Karasha rolled 14 using 1d20+3.  dex save.

25 damage. Still conscious (just)>

Lando was quite surprised to see the witch was not at all what he was expecting. Her skin was not green and bubbled but smooth and sun-kissed, her purple leotard hugged curves from thigh to bosom and her painted red lips spread into a wide smile revealing perfect white teeth as she smiled at him. She brushed long black braids of silk hair away from her face so she could get a better look at him.

"Don't play dumb. We are all too smart for that. I know who you are and I know what you think you're doing here. I have all the cards, and you will all certainly die if you aren't willing to play the hand I will deal you now.

"The Martikovs, wereravens, and the Keepers of the Feather are my enemies. You have helped them, but just now I killed more than half of their numbers. Though I preferred to make them suffer rather than end their misery so swiftly.

"I will let you all live if one of you kills this woman. This is Isla Martikov, the matron of the family. The true leader of the Keepers. Kill her and I will heal the four of you and let you leave Berez knowing you have no hope. That will satisfy me. Nothing more. Besides, Strahd probably wouldn't like it if I killed his little playthings, don't you think? Hehehehee."

01:59, Today: Skuldja Blackrazor rolled 8 using 1d20+4.  Con Save, DC 17.

Skuldja fell, from the explosion. Her clothes were blackened and burning a little. It was hard to tell, but her scales were blackened a bit too. She was conscious, just still stunned.

Zrakrud uses his rythmic dancing and chanting to place some distance between him and this witch, but as he does so he lets lose a single word cause his mind to whip towards the witch once again.

---

OOC: Cast Tasha's Mind Whip, DC 13 and move away full speed.


14:17, Today: Zrakrud rolled 6 using 3d6 with rolls of 1,3,2.  Mind Whip. (Cry a little)

quote:

You psychically lash out at one creature you can see within range. The target must make an Intelligence saving throw. On a failed save, the target takes 3d6 psychic damage, and it can't take a reaction until the end of its next turn. Moreover, on its next turn, it must choose whether it gets a move, an action, or a bonus action; it gets only one of the three. On a successful save, the target takes half as much damage and suffers none of the spell's other effects.

Karasha, on the ground, barely conscious and burnt, muttered in the elvish language as her hand clutched in the dirt. She felt the cool energy as she called to the earth, called for the nutrients to heal and soothe her wounds.

---

<OOC: Action - Casts Cure wounds, Second level on herself

Karasha rolled 11 using 2d8+2.  cure wounds - second level.

Gains 11 hp.

Bonus Action - none>

Lando noticed that Karasha was well enough to heal herself. Skuldja was burnt, on the ground, and unmoving.  He spoke words laced with magic, "Come now. This is no time for lying about.  Get up." When he saw no movement, he tried to stall, "well you see we had an accord with the wereravens.  They aren't my allies of course.  I have no interest in the conflict between you on a personal level.  However, they are associates of a local tradesman with whom I have a working relationship, and some of them are needed in that business. I need assurances that they and my companions will be freed, if I should agree to your proposal."  When the magic whip shot in, he dropped all pretense of negotiation, grabbed Skuldja, and dragged her out of the door.  "Sorry! It looks like I must be going.  Come on, everyone! let's go!"

Action: grab Skudja

Move: as far as Lando can go out of the hut and away

Bonus action: casting healing word at level 2 on Skuldja
17:28, Today: Lando rolled 11 using 2d4+3 with rolls of 4,4.  healing word.

I just noticed Skuldja's weight, and there is no way Lando's 8 strength is moving her.  Hopefully Karasha will get up and help, ot Skuldja will make her next save check.

Suddenly she grabs her head, "Aghh!" (from mind whip) and Lando and Karasha find the moment to do their healing spells.

"Assurances, my boy??? I assure you if you do not obey me you will all die here. He hehehehee."

Baba Lysaga walks next to Lando as he goes about trying to drag the half-dragon out of her hut. She mutters discouraging things to him like, "Don't lift with your back, you might pull a disc...no, sweetie, not like that....tsk tsk, tut tut..." And she giggles most annoyingly the entire time.

---

Skuldja and Karasha are healed a bit. Baba Lysaga seems unaware of Zakrud.
Karasha is inside the hut, Lando, Skuldja and Baba Lysaga are at the doorway.
Round 3.

Lando straitened up with a slight thoughtful frown, "I hadn't planned on dying just yet.  That will accelerate my plans faster than I had wanted, but you did win the battle.  Although, it's a bit too sooty to die in here, don't you think?"  He stepped out of the doorway, and looked about, "no no, this is far too muddy." He moved to the north side of the hut, out of view from the door.  "Aha! how about here? You could kill me here."

Action: disengage

move: If he has to walk around the roots he can get behind the front root.  He'd like to get behind the second root if he could

Karasha saw the whole thing happeneing as if in slow motion, and winced. She did not want her friend killed, so she did what she thought would help.

Hand on the ground, she called nature to help her, calling vines to encase the woman.

---

<OOC: What the hell!

Action - Casts Entangle on the woman, so captures her but not lando.

DC strength 12 or be restrained

Bonus action - None>

Zrakrud watches Lando move around the edge of the hut but still call out to Lysaga he figured he had a moment, whispering a short enchantment his words carried upon the winds to Karasha's ears only ""

---

OOC: Continue to move away, but keep others in sight and cast the cantrip message

"I don't want to kill-what?" Vines wrapped around her legs but she shook them off, "I've changed my mind. FNGRFDTH."

She says the curse and points at Lando.
You send negative energy coursing through a creature that you can see within range, causing it searing pain. The target must make a Constitution saving throw DC17. It takes 58 necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

A humanoid killed by this spell rises at the start of your next turn as a zombie that is permanently under your command, following your verbal orders to the best of its ability.

So you see, if you die, you get to be a zombie! The game is far from over. :)

Baba Lysaga seems unaware of Zakrud.
Karasha is inside the hut, Lando, Skuldja and Baba Lysaga are outside, near the massive roots of the hut.
Round 4.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:11, Sat 19 Mar 2022.

Lando collapsed to the ground.


18:43, Today: Lando rolled 13 using 1d20.  constitution save.

Lando is dead.  I'll start work on a new character

Karasha watched as the bard, the friendliest of teh lot in this group, fell dead. The elf felt pity for his soul, but also a welling anger as she looked at the woman. A single tear dropped into her hand, and she used it to fashon ice cold magic in the form of a dagger.

With a flick, the dagger lashed out at the woman.

The shot, in her anger, missed teh woman, but it exploded with a cold burst.

---

<OOC: Action - Casts ice knife

Karasha rolled 7 using 1d20+4.  ice knife.

MISSED!

Karasha rolled 6 using 2d6.  cold damage. or all in n5 feet

Bonus Action - None>

Finally, Skuldja found herself kicked back into consciousness. Her eyes opened wide and dilated quickly. She was on the ground and felt hot embers on her scales. She quickly got up and saw things were not going well, Lando was on the ground like she had been. She grabbed her Lute and cast fly on herself and then attempted to grab Lando with one hand, Karasha with the other, and then Zrakrud with her mouth or he could grab on to her. Then she planned to blast off in a random direction away from the witch.

Zrakrud watched from a far, seeing what he could do to help, but with a single word Lando fell dead. Staying within the brushes that he knew so well how to hide in he watched, a slow rhythm being tapped upon his side.

"Flee flee flee. I have taken my prize and you have yours. Fear. Dread. Despair. Your only hope is to serve Strahd. Anything else and you will die."

Baba Lysaga moves Stands over Lando's body, not allowing anyone to have it, but does nothing to stop you from leaving.

---

You may choose to go to any other location in Berez, check the map.