u/Archaondaneverchosen — reddlx

Hey everybody,

Had an insane session today, so I just wanted to share. Hopefully yall find some enjoyment from this.

Today, my party cleared the Wizard of Vines Winery of the druids, blights, and barbarians with relative efficiency. These druids had constructed a curse effigy, its magic imbued by Baba Lysaga, to hang above the vats and defile the wine. The party destroyed the curse, but one of the party (that spoke druidic) heard from the dissipating effigy that "Baba is coming... Baba is angry..."

Davian and Co quickly flew away when the party divulged this info, and the party attempted to escape via the brown mold passage in the cellar (thinking it was an escape route), but ended up just taking a bunch of cold damage. As the wind picked up and a cackling laugh was heard upon it, the party desperately discussed their next move. They resolved to face their fears and try and talk to the witch.

Some context: in my campaign, Baba has had Ireena captive from the start as leverage over Strahd (so he pays her more attention). Strahd tasked them with getting Ireena from her to give to him. Also, Ismark is travelling with the party.

They emerged from the Winery, Baba casting a mirage arcane upon the sky behind her to project a huge shadow of herself amidst the hail and lightning. Baba flew down in her giant's skull, demanding to know who dares defy her. The Paladin spoke, respectfully saying they had no intention of getting in her way and that they merely were here to find wine for Krezk and to help the Martikovs clear the winery. He succeeds on his persuasion check, but then mentions that they are on a mission from Strahd. Lysaga asks if they are tasked with finding the soul of Tatyana (Ireena). The Paladin's player hesitates, but thinks his character would speak truthfully, so he does.

Lysaga instantly strikes him with a Finger of Death (the table goes nuts when this happens). He succeeds the save but is reduced in HP massively and experiences agonizing pain. Baba tells them to keep to their own business or she will destroy them all. The party successfully talks her down, convincing her they will not go after Ireena further.

But Baba is not yet satisfied. She says that since they took something from her today (destroying the curse), she will have to take something from them. The party is super invested in this, but I haven't a clue what to offer. I called a 5 minute break so I could think of what she would ask of them, running to the bathroom and wracking my brain for something interesting. I came back, and Baba tells them they will kill the entire Martikov family for her, and to make sure they do, casts Geas upon them.

A few players attempt to resist; the blood hunter is the first to try, and she gets the second Finger of Death, reducing her to 1HP (she also saved on the FoD); the cleric fails and is polymorphed into a slug; the monk also fails and gets a Crown of Madness. Only the Sorcerer, who had cast Protection from Good and Evil on herself, is not cursed to fulfill the Geas. Ismark is also Geas-ed (?). Baba finally flies away, and the party decide to take a short rest before returning to Krezk.

During their short rest, Davian and the other Keepers of the Feather return to the Winery to thank the party for clearing out the premises and lifting the curse. The ranger tells them to run, then slings two magic stones at Davian, killing him. Initiative begins, with the wereravens way down. The bloodhunter refuses to attack the wereravens, taking the 5d10 psychic and downing her. The sorcerer stands between the party and the Martikovs, trying to prevent any further violence, but the wizard throws a fireball, killing two more wereravens. Ismark also refuses to attack, and the seizure from the Geas causes him to drop. The remaining two wereravens fly away (the sorcerer telling them to flee coz of the Geas).

The party is left traumatised, having killed three of their allies after being magically bound by Lysaga. The sorcerer desperately tries to save Ismark (her player, plus the character loves him), but it's too late. Ismark died instantly. As the session ends, the party discusses that the Abbot can probably bring back Ismark (they've only talked to him once thus far), and departs back towards Krezk having buried the dead Martikovs.

Insane session. The players are talking about how great and emotionally scarring it was (the sorcerer's heart was legit broken at Ismark's death). One hell of an introduction to Baba Lysa)ga, a character that has been foreshadowed for the past IRL year. It will be interesting to see how each character responds and grows from this encounter. One of the best CoS sessions we've had so far!

Thanks for reading!