Session 6: The Mother's Embrace Report

General Summary

Setting off in search of the magical flowers @Acat had asked the party to find they head east. Trekking into the forest the party successfully navigate without losing focus and end up in a clearing after a couple hours of travel. In this clearing lied 4 @Megaliths each imbuing a magical property. Holy, Death, Mist, and Fey. The party reach out and touch them with no effect occurring. They ponder the nature of these stones before noticing a windmill atop a cliff. With no other direction they head towards it but overlapping discussions on where to go lead them in circles as nightfall grew closer. Soon darkness blanketed the forest but luckily the faint blue light of the flowers they were quested to find lit their paths. After gathering a sack full they prepare to make camp as travelling anymore might be dangerous. Watches were set and organised sleep was taken but as dawn broke a strange tree like figure breached the quiet surroundings. Almost in a daze it asked the party to join its family and become children of the @Mother_of_All. When the party ask too many questions the Dryad gets frustrated and launches a skirmish. After fending off the attack they prepare to move back to Acat after gathering there things.    They return and Acat has packed and is ready to travel to Kresk. He emphatically thanks the party before promising a new tattoo for the party to claim! Left to ponder what they should do next they return to @Urwin to see if he is ready for them. Before reaching him they notice some of the graves match up with the map they found on the coffin makers corpse. After some cryptic solving they unveil the first clue to a riddle. "Its roar is heard afar". They continue to the Blue water inn and Urwin is happy to see them return, he then informs them of their quest. The windmill they saw has once again been taken over by a witches coven. He warns them to go no further as the town of Barovia further down has been taken over. Without hesitation they amble off to complete there charge.   They soon arrive at the windmill where they see various occult affairs and decor including caged moths and various jars and rugs adorning the room. Upstairs were crying caged children which when intimidated sobbed loudly and soiled themselves. The witches came up to defend there children and did so with gusto. After one of the hags died another much larger hag came in and caused much more trouble. Wanting replacement family members the hag hugged and crushed the spines of party members. Sensing there impending doom the party strategised an exit strategy. Friend throwing itself out a window, els going invisible and both gastoff and traveller made a run. Els however got stuck inside and just as the hag motioned back towards her a bolt of black energy struck the hag in the back and it rose as a zombie. Els saw strahd in the doorway and the beneficiary granted her the priviledge of leaving with only a bruised ego.