Session 12

General Summary

Time for Group Therapy

As the party woke up, Ahrieya went to Luvash to exchange the potion of poison for a potion of healing. Meanwhile, Ireena woke up early to train again, and the rest of the party started reheating some leftovers for breakfast. As Everyone gathered together, figuring out what to do next, the general disagreement and inability to come to a decision started to irritate Idris. They were going to try something new, something that his old band used to do. He took out his newly mended bass and started passing it around in a circle, with whomever holding the bass speak their mind and feelings.
Ariadne went first, and gave a heartfelt commentary on how despite what the others think, she very much sees the others as her friends, and hope that they feel the same. Ireena went next, displaying similar feelings towards the group and that they make her feel better about everything happening to her. After, Ahrieya took the bass and claimed that everyone thinks hes a bad guy, or cant be trusted. Everyone seems to be on Gio's side even after his betrayal, and seem to get chastised for things that end up being useful in the end. The rest of the party spoke up, claiming that they are not against her, and while it isn't that they aren't hurt by what Gio did, they believe he didn't give up the information voluntarily. With Gio next, he knows that what he did was horrible, but he wouldn't give up the information willingly despite him wanting to find his family. He's done a lot of bad things in his life, and knows about having to do them to get stuff done or do good. He then went around the group and apologized for something he had said against them unintentionally. Passing the banjo to Nova, claimed that she liked the party and wished to be friends with them as well, similarly to Ariadne and Ireena. She then passed the cello to Idris, and though at first he didn't want to share his feelings, he eventually gave in and talked about his worry and frustration in that he has no real combat experience, and that he may have damned his friends by speaking about them. 
With therapy behind them, they choose to go after the old women in the mill, but later in the day. During this time, Ahrieya uncovered a new journal entry, Nova hunted a massive elk, Gio made some potions, Ireena and Ariadne practiced their fighting and casting, and Idris started some songwriting.

Off to the Mill

As the day grew late, the the group started to move towards the mill. As they were on the road, the party began to smell an acrid scent on the air. Sending Viggo up in the air to see whats up, there was a patch of woods far off in the distance with green mist/vapor rising from a bare section of the woods. The party decided to come back to that later.
The party decided to camp out at the massive gates a little further down the road. Setting themselves up, the party eventually started hearing the squeaky wheels of Granny's cart. Ahrieya and Idris talked with her, and after a brief discussion, it Ahrieya wanted to have her vitality restored but Granny insisted it was incentive to stay quiet, as they could always take more. The two claimed that Ahrieya needs to be at her full strength to do what they need to do, and perhaps even make Granny and her daughters even more powerful by either placing them in Strahd's place, or by having Granny install a puppet. Intrigued by the thought, she offered a new deal. Half of Ahrieya's vitality would be returned, but the two would give something else in return. As well, they will make a blood pact with them, having them do something for her to be described after the deal was made. Not pleased with the deal, Granny began to leave as the party laid in on her. After taking damage, she disappeared. 
The party ended up going back to the mill to explore to see if they were hiding out in there. Gio snuck in with the help of Ahrieya, as Nova talked with a similar looking raven that seemed to be following them, and Idris and Ariadne made a very loud diversion. Inside, Gio found no one in the mill, though there were slightly used caged on the top floor of the milll itself. Otherwise, it seemed the women faded into thin air. 
Investigating, the party found an unsent letter reading...

Vasili, My Dear Friend,
Yes, of course I would be more than willing to help you with such a horrible problem! I can only imagine what those poor dears in Vallaki are going through. You know very well that I've had my own bad encounters with witches... encounters that have left their marks on my very soul. Children, orphaned or not, should never have to face such evil.

If you find a way to get the little ones at Andral's Orphanage safely out of Vallaki, I'll be happy to house them in my windmill. There's not much room here, true. But we have beds and pies to go around.

Sincerely, Morgantha

They breathed a sigh of relief knowing that the letter was NOT sent.
Back downstairs, the party investigated the cabinet and barrel. They looted all the vials from the ingredients cabinet, and saw there were small humanoid bones in the waste bin. In the barrel, after being identified, revealed there to be a demonic essence in it as it resembled a tar like substance which smelt of brimstone, Ahrieya took a bit of it in a glass vial, and saw that it seemed to try to get back to the barrel.
As the party left the mill and began to travel back to Vallaki a cackling could be heard as the slight smell of ozone permeated the air, and bolts of lightning crackled through the party as three blue-skinned, horned women appeared out of nowhere.

Report Date

19 Oct 2022

Primary Location

Vallaki Vistani Camp

Secondary Location

The Old Mill

Related Characters

• Granny Morgantha
• Luvash