Sunny Barovia

2/18/25 Day 42 –Morning …We stepped through and found ourselves inside Baba Lysaga’s hut… I pointed to the glow underneath the crib and told Oloch, “Ignore the crib. It’s not real.  We’ve got to get to whatever is making that glow.  Can you smash the floorboards?” Oloch looked at me like I just asked him if he’d like some ice cream. Oloch when he gets to smash something He then dropped to his knees and punched through the wood.  Then he started tearing up the flooring like a 5-year-old ripping open a Christmas gift. There, underneath the floorboards was a little alcove cradling a glowing gem.   The gem was held in place by vines and roots growing from the tree and the hut.   I tried to use mage hand to pull it out, but it was held firmly in place. “Oloch,” I said, “Can you pull that out?” “Are you kidding?  Of course!” At that point, the hut was flooded by the swarm of insects that had beset us down below.  What was more worrisome was ...

  2/10/25 Day 42 –Morning The hut looked as if it had been built on the stump of an enormous tree.   Roots stretched out and up like spider legs.   We stood 70 or so yards off contemplating what was before us.   We decided to send Laz out to scout the other side.   He disappeared into the swamp, and we waited. I took the time to ritually summon Woodhouse. After about 15 minutes, he came back and told us the door was open, but it was about 15 feet up.   Also, floating right in front of the steps to the door, there was an overturned skull.   Judging by its size, it must have belonged to a giant. Laz opined that perhaps it was some sort of elevator.   It could easily hold a person, and he didn’t see any steps, ladders or any other way to access the hut. We asked Arabelle if she could tell us anything about Baba Lysaga. She told us that she’s a servant of Strahd but is no longer welcome at the castle.   She is a magus of great power and...

 2/3/25 Day 42 –Morning As the wagons got closer, one of them bore the unmistakable flair of the Vistani.    The other two were more traditional looking wagons. Ireena, Wolfram and I went out to greet them.    Laz elected to stay hiding behind the door if this didn’t turn out to be a friendly visit. The wagons trundled closer and soon we saw Arrigal driving the lead.    He waved and I waved back.    He pulled the wagon up to the side of the house and began securing it.    He seemed mildly surprised to see us. Each of the other two wagons were being by a couple, none of whom seemed familiar to us.    They pulled their wagons up near the front of the winery. Wolfram, Lady Ireena and I walked over to Arrigal who said, “Greetings my friends! I did not expect to find you here.” “Nor did I expect to see you.    I was under the impression your people had left these lands,” I responded. “Oh, well, nearly so, nearly so. B...

 6/25/24 (Lore details provided by Abe) Day 39 – 40 The offer of perusing Exethanter’s library was more than Kasimir or I could resist.   Wolfram and Lady Ireena also seemed eager at the prospect. Exethanter provided tomes on the nature of Vampires, the Undead, a partial history of Barovia and others.   The three of us eagerly started reading. After maybe 30-45 minutes later, Laz interrupted us to announce that he had gone downstairs and had a very cordial conversation with Heinrich/Nefron.     They hit it off so well that Heinrich provided Laz with a magical Sending Stone, so the two could keep in touch.   He suggested that we should use it to provide them with some notice if we decide to return.   This subtle invitation was not lost on us. Heinrich when we met him Heinrich by the time we left About an hour later, Exethanter returned to the Library.  Where before his movements had been slow and jerky, he now moved with a smooth grace...

 1/14/23 The next morning, we geared up to travel back to Vallaki, with the last six children we had saved from the Werewolf den.   The hike was relatively uneventful, and very nearly peaceful.   The smaller children took turns riding on Oloch’s shoulders, which he seemed to enjoy almost as much as the kids. We discussed the sword that Sergei had referenced.   It was almost certainly the one we had seen Tatyana wielding against Strahd in that vision that wasn’t a vision.   For her part, Ireena said she remembered that Sergei had been a fairly powerful paladin and wielded that blade in the service of The Morninglord but had no idea what had become of it afterwards. As we approached the village of Vallaki, Oloch and I split from the group so I could meet with Kasimir.   The rest of the party continued on after agreeing we’d meet at the Manse. We found our way around the base of the hill to Kasimir’s home.   I briefly explained what had occurred w...

  8/29/23 I told Kasimir of our recent experiences in Berez.   He listened patiently and warned not to underestimate Baba Lysaga, as he considers her one of the top three spellcasters in Barovia.   I asked who the other two were, hoping that he was one of them.   He was not.   He said one was the mage who attempted to overthrow Strahd a number of years ago.   However, that one has since gone mad and is a recluse on the north side of the lake.   The other one he suspects can be found in the Amber Temple.   He did not believe either would aid us against Baba Lysaga.   I asked if he would be willing to assist us with the hag.   He said after we aid him at the Amber Temple he would consider aiding us in return.   He again opined that we were not quite ready for that challenge, but we would be soon. We chatted more, drank some tea and he agreed to teach me a new spell later that night.   I excused myself to let my friends know...

 8/8/23 Between the zombie fight and the tour of Ireena’s past lives, we decided that we really weren’t up for a confrontation with Baba Lysaga right now, if we could possibly help it. I was exhausted, Connell even more so, or so it looked. It was getting late, but we figured we could likely make it back to Vallaki by nightfall.   I was still in the hellhound form, so I scouted forward to lead our little group, which now included the goat, apparently.   We waded back through the muck of the swamp and finally got back to solid ground. My spell dropped and I regained my normal shape and faculties. After about 45 minutes or so, we came to the part of the path where we had seen glimpses of an old castle through the fog.   Laz raised a finger as he looked about, clearly listening for something.   We paused, then from the south the sound of hoofbeats.   Many hoofbeats. Getting closer.   Soon, a dark banner designating some unrecognized military unit ...