Baba Lysaga
Two women gave life to Strahd von Zarovich. The first
was Queen Ravenovia van Roeyen, Strahd's biological
mother. The second was the queen's midwife, a devout
follower of Mother Night named Baba Lysaga. Although
it was the former who raised Strahd and enabled him
to follow in his father's footsteps, it was the latter
who sensed a potential for greatness and darkness in
Strahd surpassing that of any other mortal. Lysaga
believed then, as she believes now, that she is Strahd's
true mother.
Other Mother. When Strahd was still a baby in his
crib, Baba Lysaga cast protective spells on him and
crept into his nursery on stormy nights to sing magical
rhymes to him. She also placed the "spark of magic" in
him, ensuring that he would become a spellcaster.
Baba Lysaga's unhealthy attachment to the baby
Strahd did not go unnoticed. After she received several
disturbing reports, Queen Ravenovia was forced to banish
the midwife from the kingdom. Lysaga never saw
Strahd again, but she has succeeded in staying alive
to witness the triumphs of her beloved boy, who, in her
mind, is eternally blessed. Despite the horrors Strahd
has wrought, Lysaga still envisions him as the perfect
child she delivered into the world. Strahd is the only
thing in her life that matters to her.
Mother Nearest. During her exile, Baba Lysaga made
countless sacrifices to Mother Night, pleading with the
goddess to afflict Queen Ravenovia with ill health and
visit death upon her. Lysaga eventually got her wish,
and after Strahd settled in the valley of Barovia, Lysaga
moved as close to him as she dared to.
In the filth-ridden depths of her heart, Lysaga knows
that Strahd would never accept her as his true mother,
nor could she bear his rejection. As a result, she has
never confronted him. She would rather exist in perpetual
denial, whiling away the days, months, and
years practicing fell magic and looking for ways to help
her "son."
Raven Bane. Baba Lysaga has allies in Castle Ravenloft-
a coven of witches. Through the aid of these
witches, Lysaga recently uncovered a potential threat to
Strahd: a secret society of wereravens ca lied the Keepers
of the Feather, a group that uses ordinary ravens as
their spies. Strahd doesn't consider the wereravens a serious
threat, but Lysaga has chosen to make them the bane
of her existence. After much searching and scrying, she
discovered a wereraven refuge at the Wizard of Wines
winery (chapter 12), and she has begun to wage war
against it. In addition, she has forged an alliance with
the mad druids that haunt Yester Hill (chapter 14), convincing
them that she gave birth to Strahd, whom the
druids consider a god. With the druids on her side, she
expects to rid Barovia of its wereraven menace.
Gifts of Mother Night. The goddess Mother Night has
bestowed magical gifts on Baba Lysaga as rewards for
her ceaseless devotion to Strahd. Her skin has the resilience
of stone, she is resistant to harmful magic, and she
is shielded against divination magic. Mother Night has
also imparted to Lysaga the secret of longevity, which
requires her to bathe in the blood of beasts on nights
of the new moon. Failure to do so causes Lysaga to
age rapidly, becoming mere dust and bones in a matter
of seconds.
Ideal. "No love is greater than a mother's love
for her son."
Bond. "I am the mother of Strahd. Anyone who disputes
this fact can rot."
Flaw. "I will not rest until the last of my son's enemies
are destroyed."
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