10/12/21 Session 33 - "Swampy Swamp Lady"

Our adventurers continue their trek to Berez, eventually running into a very swampy area with dilapidated buildings. Grinfiddeus Nobbles finds an old and broken baby rattle in the mud, he determines this is one of Blinsky's toys. As they continue to cross yet another swampy portion of the road they find yet another toy, this time a rocking horse. Why are there so many broken and abandoned toys in this place?
As our heroes begin to cross toward the center of town, Fredriech Carlston is distracted by the raven Muriel. When asked what is wrong, the bird requests that the party follow her as this place is not safe. She leads them across the river to a set of pillars much like those found at the windmill. There, she turns into a person and reveals her identity. Her name is Muriel Vinshaw and she has been watching over and trying to help the party the best she can. She tells the group that whoever is in the ruins at the center of Berez has been killing ravens and members of her group. While everyone has many questions, this is not the strangest things to happen to them in Barovia. Muriel lets the party know that her group works out of the Winery to the Northwest, and she will continue to help best she can.
The adventurers return to the other side of the river and begin investigating some of the dilapidated homes. Om Wolfash finds a sign written in the same handwriting as an invitation to a party he's been holding on to as long as he can remember. The party follows Om Wolfash into the corresponding home and helps search around. They find several parts of a dagger, a hilt and pieces of a blade, and what appear to be the bones and skull of a murder victim in what feel like home to Om Wolfash. The party helps to bury the remains near the home and continues their exploration of the town.
There are several nasty looking scarecrows about and toward the center of the swamp, a hut on what appears to be the stump of an old tree. The hut is surrounded by broken toys, all appearing to have been made by Blinksy. As the party approaches, they call out to someone moving about inside. "Baba" appears and asks them what they want. They must be more quiet as her "baby" is sleeping. They speak with her about rumors that the mother of Strahd von Zarovich resides here. They eventually discover that she is his "Mother" and that the baby she is caring for is also named Strahd von Zarovich. Also, she insists that his true love is not Tatianna, but actually a woman who passed long ago from this village by the name of Marina. Marina is buried in the cemetery. she was killed by her uncle after her father (the burgermaster of Berez) promised her hand to Strahd von Zarovich.
While speaking to Baba, Grinfiddeus Nobbles notices a familiar green glow coming from under the floorboards of the cradle where the baby sleeps. Perhaps another magical ward they are searching for. Baba gives her displeaser at the party refering to Strahd von Zarovich as a vampire and asks them to leave as she must attend to her child. They do and head toward to cemetery to investigate the Marina's grave.
After arriving at the cemetery they notice that the statue erected at Marina's grave bears a striking resemblance to Ireena/Tatianna. They head up toward the old burgermasters mansion and find a ring of wood holding in what appear to be goats/sheep. Inside the dilapidated mansion they find the ghost of the burgermaster. He explains the situation with his daughter and that he regrets giving her hand to Strahd von Zarovich. His brother likely killed her to keep the dreadlord from his happiness. He assumes his brother still haunts the church the party missed down by the graveyard.