History: 11

Renny had her nose in books for a long time so... History 10

History: 7

Arcana: 8

Fil, ever since you can remember, since your adoption, the people of Cormyr have always talked of a strange dark land, one that perhaps doesn't even exist on the same plane. You've had similar talks with Queen Raedra Obarskyr about this land (which is obviously Barovia), and in fact, a few moments before you left the Queen and found yourself here, she had been telling you of a particularly horrific location in these dark lands... called the Old Bonegrinder. This structure, once a grain mill that served Vallaki (a town in the Land of Barovia that you're also likely heard of) is now home to a number of Night Hags who haunt the lands and who also worship Strahd.

Shae, during your childhood you would've definitely heard of these scary Night Hags... likely described more like witches when you were a kid. You were told they lived in a haunted windmill.

Renny you've read about this Bonegrinder mill and it being haunted by evil witches who are very powerful.

Ignatia, throughout your unique travels, you haven't really heard of the Old Bonegrinder, and you are still trying to wrap your head around what in the blue hell is going on here with this sick freak of a woman/witch/hag/whatever and why she's using kids for ingredients for her pies.

The Night Hag continues to look at you, and is moments from walking away. "Well dearies, if you don't want any more pies, then I'll be on my way. Best be gettin' back home... lots of cookin' to do!! heeeee heheheheheheheheeeeee hheeee!"

She is still not attacking or being aggressive in any way.

Fil glances at everyone and gulps as the Hag leaves. "I've heard stories about the Old Bonegrinder. Her majesty liked to spook us with scary stories about vampires witches. She said there are hags living in the Bonegrinder and I think we just met one of them."

" She's on the list."

(If anyone else wants to interact more with the Hag, feel free to do so. Otherwise, she is about to walk away. I will give a bit more time and then will proceed the party to the townhouse later today unless someone else wants to go somewhere else first.)

Locations

- A mercantile.

- A tavern.

- A townhouse that you heard crying from.

- A mansion that sticks out like a sore thumb.

- A church.

- A cemetery.

- Any random house of your choosing.

- Castle Ravenloft

Ignatia intends to continue to the townhouse, she's trying to think of a way of getting the hag into the mercantile before burning it down for the public good....but that can wait for another day.

Fil shakes his head. "Perhaps gathering more intel will help us learn about these hags at Old Bonegrinder. The townhouse or church would be a good place to go. I'm fine with either."

"As long as we don't get bone ground.. ya know? We should stay away from the mill."

Renny looks up and down the street, "Information is good though. Somewhere with books maybe?"

" I want to investigate the crying.....I want to help someone ...........and not have it go horribly wrong for once........", Ignatia said a little miserably.

" And once we get some more information under our belts that mill is meeting hellfire."

The hag disappears into the streets as you all continue on your way to investigate the townhouse. 

A moaning sob floats through the still, gray streets, coloring your thoughts with sadness. Seems this town has a lot of that going around... The moaning sob sounds flow from a dark, two-story townhouse.

The front door is ajar and I assume the entire party enters the house. The house, which is about 40 feet square, is boarded up and barricaded from the inside. Immediately upon entering the house, you see a woman who looks quite worse for wear. She sits in the center of the floor in the main living room, clutching a malformed doll, slowly rocking back and forth, whimpering. She is lost in her sorrow and despondency. She barely recognizes the presence of any of you.

What would you like to do?

Fil approaches the woman holding the doll, oblivious that his stature and appearance may scare her. He makes sure to maintain his distance. "Ma'am is something the matter?"

Ignatia stayed by the door, Fil was big but there was a certain affable nature about the lad...perhaps he'd win through.

She whispered and pointed a crooked hand towards the floor the woman sat on, warming it slowly to take the chill off as Fil approached.

OOC: Prestidigitation.

The woman is startled by Fil, but doesn't seem to react as a startled person would. She looks up at your giant frame, and at that moment she also feels the effects of the warming floorboards due to Ignatia's spell. She actually thinks that it's the giant's magic.

Her eyes look at you, blankly. "She's gone... she's gone forever."

Renny stays just outside the door as well, seemingly wary of another house that might try to eat them. It's hard to see past Fil though, so she mostly listens and keeps an eye out on the street.

"I don't like this place. None of us should have come here."

Ignatia stood where she was and let Fil do the talking, nodding in agreement with Remmy.

Fil stares at the woman. "Who's gone, ma'am?"

Renny, the streets remain empty... for now... as you watch on.

Ignatia's spell is still warming the floor beneath the woman as Fil approaches her and speaks. She says to Fil:

"Ohhhh Gertruda..... my... my little girl. My life. She's gone. She must've escaped. She was obsessed with that.... that freak vampire... I tried to protect her... I've protected her for her whole life... but now she's gone."

Fil, please roll an Insight or an Investigation check. 

Anyone else can make one of these rolls as well, but only if you enter the house completely vs. standing at the door.

Ignatia stepped slightly inside the door.

Insight/Investigation: 16