Ben:

"You have a point, Horatio.  However, the fey do seem to have rules of behavior that might cause them to look unfavorably on wanton destruction of property.  Perhaps we get through what doors we can and see what we can find, then fall back on breaking open a path when we have exhausted that route?" he suggests.

Not knowing much about history, Ben tries to remember if he has heard the name before anyway.

History:  4

Titaani screws her eyes shut and tries to remember if the name came up in any of her mother Dianae's bedtime stories: 3

To Pud, Ben, and Titaani, "Baba Yaga" is just a name you may have heard – nothing more.

As the rest of the party deliberates on your next moves - the boat? the beanstalk? or smashing open doors? - Pud experiments with the hatches.

The heads are firmly – perhaps magically – affixed inside their hatches. They will not move. But closing them and reopening them re-triggers their utterances. Pud opens them in order:
Harpy head: “Bah!”
Ogre head: “Bah!”
Bugbear head: “Yah!”
Hobgoblin head: “Gah!”

The hall suddenly vanishes.

Everyone finds themselves in a large, circular, quite ruined study. Splinters of wood, along with some loose papers and two halves of a shattered blowing horn, are suspended in the air. Whatever caused this unfortunate scene also punched a hole in the north wall on the landing between two staircases, one leading up and the other leading down. The stony debris from the blast is frozen in midair outside the tower. Through the hole you see Strongheart, the human knight with a thick mustache and a look of surprise on his face who was apparently thrown backward through the jagged hole and now hangs in the air amid the debris, a rope now tied around his waist. The knight wears a helm adorned with feathery wings, and he is holding a longsword and a shield.

Inside the tower where you now find yourselves, a frighteningly tall, emaciated figure stands up from a destroyed love seat. Her form is hidden under the layers of her elaborate costume. Part dress, part mechanical theater, she is shrouded behind a gauzy “theater curtain” veil. The outermost layers of her dress open to reveal a marionette theatre.

"Ooo! We have guests!" announces Endelyn Moongrave, aka Creeping Lyn, aka Bitter End. "Just what I foretold."

"Hello, children," says her companion, a short, thin, gnarled woman swathed in a tattered dress with petticoats. Cracked white face paint plasters her features, with crimson splotches on her cheeks and thick mascara coating her sparse eyelashes. Underneath her makeup, her flesh is textured like rotten bark and infested with wood lice and fungus. A windup key sticks out of her back. "Are you here to make a bargain?" asks Skabatha, aka Granny Nightshade.

Ben:

”Nicely done, Pud,” says Ben softly, stunned by their sudden relocation.

Gathering his wits, Ben draws his blade and replies, “We are here to restore Queen Zybilina to her rightful place as ruler of Prismeer and eradicate those who conspire to depose her.  We have defeated you once already and stand ready to do so again.  Oppose us at your peril!” 

Intimidate:  17

Not waiting for a reply, Horatio activates Giant's Might (Bonus Action) and charges Skabetha, shoving her (Action 1: Shove) 5' towards the gaping hole behind her. 

(( Contested: Horatio's Athletics + Strength, at Advantage from Giant's Might = 20 (modified). Skabetha needs to roll opposed Athletics or Acrobatics using Strength or Dexterity or be thrown out of the tower ))

(( Initiative 11 if she is not surprised by the suddenness of the attack ))

(( If he fails and regular combat ensues he will try a second time or Grapple her if she moves ))

Everyone: Roll initiative!

(And yes, that was sudden! So under 2024 rules, I will give the hags disadvantage on their initiative:)

Endelyn: 15
Skabatha: 7

Ben’s Initiative:  7

(Whoops! Endelyn has "Uncanny Awareness" which means she can’t be surprised.)

Updated Initiative:
Endelyn: 20
Horatio: 11
Ben: 7
Skabatha: 7
Elkhorn: 2
Matilda: __
Pud: __
Titaani: __

(I'll wait to give everyone a chance to roll initiative. Then I'll resolve Ben's post. Then, unless you can meet or beat an initiative 20, Endelyn will act.)

Pud's Initiative: 11

Matilda Initiative- 15

"Oh, hush all your bluster," admonishes Endelyn. "You realize she is a demented archmage who has peered into the Abyss and learned how to summon and control demons?"

Seeing Horatio enlarging and charging, she snaps her fingers at him, but does not take her eyes off Ben. Horatio: make a DC14 Wisdom Save, or be turned into a newt.

"She has used them to ravage kingdoms on the Material Plane," she continues. "We trapped her in time to save Prismeer from her tyranny and debauchery."

Matilda and Pud may act; Titaani should roll initiative.

(I will resolve Horatio's turn if he makes his save...)

Pud uses his reaction for the Flash of Genius feature granting Horatio a +3 on his saving throw.

Initiative: 9

"Anyone ever tell you, snappin' your fingers at people is rude! Ya old hag!" Pud yells and tosses a tiny tinker toy contraption that makes a loud fart sound in front of Endelyn in hopes of interfering with the spell. "Haha! It worked!"

Pud runs to the back of the room (diagonally, 3 spaces to the SW). He points his magical multitool wand at an unoccupied space in the room and a massive ball of fire appears out of thin air. He swirls his arm with a flourish and points at Endelyn and attempts to slam the ball of fire into her. 

Reaction: Flash of genius feature granting Horatio +3 to his save. 

Move: Run 15 ft. SW.

Action: Cast Flaming Sphere

Bonus Action: Ram Flaming Sphere into Endelyn. Dex save 16. 10 fire damage (7+ 3 from Alchemical Savant feature) or half damage with successful save. 

OOC: That funny business about the fart tinker toy was just flavor text and NOT my action :)

Matilda lunged forward stabbing furiously at Endelyn, " That seems likely but everyone who lives here wants her back and you gone...so....bye!"

Dueling Attack: 8 Damage: 9 + Sneak Attack- 4

Action Surge: 22 Damage: 9 + Sneak Attack- 5

Bonus Action- Disengage ( Move up stairwell 20'.)

"How dare you speak badly about the fey queen!" Titaani yells, throwing two balls of crackling energy at Endelyn. 

Eldritch blast one: 12 Damage: 6

Eldritch blast two: 13 Damage: 13

Initiative:
√ Endelyn: 20
... Matilda: 15
... Horatio: 11
Pud: 11
Titaani: 9
Ben: 7
Skabatha: 7
Elkhorn: 2

(Keep in mind that the squares in the map are 10' – Did Matilda mean to direct her attack toward Skabatha who is closer - on the right - and closer to the stairs going up?)

Horatio enlarges and charges Skabetha, attempting to shove her toward the gaping hole behind her.
Skabatha DC20 Athletics check: 18 or be pushed backward. (Keep in mind that she is some 10' from the edge.)

( Oops. Yep)

Horatio continues to shove Skabetha towards the gap in the wall behind her!

(( Action 2: Shove - Ath+Str = 24, needs opposed ))