"THE WITCHWILDS, THE PLAGUE LANDS, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT! GODS SPIT ON YOU FOOLS! ANYTHING EAST Of FANGARD WILL ONLY BRING YOU DEATH! EVERY YEAR I GET SOME IDIOT PETITIONING THE ELDERS' COUNCIL FOR MONEY TO FUND AN EXPEDITION EAST TO SEEK AND PLUNDER THE RUINS Of THE CYCLOPES. EVERY DAMN YEAR! AND FOR SOME REASON, THIS COUNCIL ALWAYS SENDS THEM! YOU PEOPLE ALWAYS SEND THEM, BUT AIN'T A DAMN ONE Of THEM EVER COMES BACK!"
-OSHLAK, ELDER Of THE ORLOVISHNAYA LONGHOUSE, DENOUNCING AN EXPEDITION TO THE DVEZDA MARCHES
The Diary of Zaaz Bloodfortune
When we saw the black vortex tearing
away at the fabric of our world, I began to understand and question
the nature of reality. Now, with more proof of the changing nature
of it, the voices grow louder. My mind grows slippery and I begin to
see through the smaller world and into the bigger. In one moment we
stand in the hut, desperately trying to get it to move, then in the
next the world goes blurry, the fabric of the world shifts, and we
stand someplace else. A smaller room, a staircase that wasn’t
there, a fireplace. Little differences are placed in a list, but
similarities as well. Passing strange indeed, but we stand (stood?)
in the very hut of Baba Yaga, so who knew what normal was. The keys
we used to move the hut are gone and fireflies and moths dance around
us.
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| Baba's Hut |
Exploring a bit in the hut we came to a
strange sight. An elf, unmoving as if stuck in time by a chessboard.
By him was a small fay. Sadobras sat down opposite the elf and he
began to move again. Tavum and his fay bodyguard had been guesting
with Baba Yaga and it frozen mid game of chess about four months
before. After questioning him a bit, we left him drinking heavily
and moved on down the corridor. Dalomar took the lead and soon
reported something that again made me question the nature of reality.
Though to all of us the path seemed straight, Dalomar was certain
that it was running a curved and twisted path.
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| When Baba's away, no one gets to play. |
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| Baba's chess champion opponent Tavum- frozen in time with his little fey guard. |
After a time we came to a room I shall
never forget. The sadness I feel as I write this is like a knife to
the heart. My companions and I have been through so much, yet we
have always managed to make it through, till this. We came to a door
with a strange symbol inscribed on it, an arrow pointing down from a
half circle. Searching our memories we identified this as Iobarian
script and a symbol of twilight. Cautiously entering we were greeted
with a strange sight within. It was as if a darkening forest lay
before us, dominated by a twisted tree. It's iron seeming branches
lit by a glowing fist sized orb. A raven with an amulet flapped down
to land on the tree and it spoke to us. This, one of the raven
prophets of Baba takes our measure and inquires of our goals. When
we tell the creature we are there to try to find Baba Yaga, he sets
us a task, "Born twins, they live not, yet they grow until
death. Their fates are often tied, ever crescent as the moon,
symbols of the warriors pride." It tells us the answer does lay
in the chamber beyond and that we should find the answer and bring it
to him. Entering the chamber, I do already have inkling to the
answer of this riddle. Entering, I quickly see I was correct in my
guess and pride had I at my correct summation. A Fiendish boar with
its mighty tusks was what awaited us. Massive and quick, it engaged
us in battle. In a massive strike Sadobras was rendered unconscious.
The rest of us came to his aid concentrating our attacks on the
thing. Blow after blow we struck against it and just as we think we
are gaining the upper hand, we are suddenly beset by another that had
lain hidden. Those terrible tusks, those symbols to destroy our
pride, sharp and crescent as the moon, and dripping red with Noname's
fate. They tore through him and flung him down to the ground before
my eyes. Within moments I was by his side and trying to call healing
upon him, but there was no soul left with his corpse. Noname, who we
had known for so long, was gone and Repent quickly faded from this
realm. I cast slumber onto the beast and finish off the fight. Cut
free the tusks to return to the raven I did, but there was no joy in
battle won or adversity conquered. Only deep sadness and pain. A
vow I did make to myself then. There are spells in this world to
bring back those who have moved on. So long as some tiny piece of
him remained we would have a chance. Cutting a lock of his hair I
did braid and bind it. My power would grow and I would raise him
some day or we would find another. If reality is slippery, then
Noname would slip the ties of his fate and we would see each other
again.
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| The raven oracles, The "Liar Seers" |
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| Sadobras brought within inches of his life during the test of strength! |
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| Noname killed!!! |
Returning the tusks to the raven it
thanks us and gives to us the amulet. Powerful in magic it has the
rune Dragon writ upon it in that same Iobarian script. "Look
for the key where time catches up to us all," the bird tells us
and away from us it flew. As we exited the room we find that Tavum
and Snory, the elf and fay, have decided to come with us. Tavum is
hoping for some kind of bargain with Baba Yaga and has journeyed far.
He hopes to find her with us.
The next door is again etched with
symbol so we are greeted with the Iobarian symbol for Night. Again
as we enter we are greeted by a raven prophet, this one an albino
with red eyes. Thick columns stand forth and moonflower vines wind
their way around, all lit by a glowing blood red orb. "You did
well with the boars," it tells us. "Your strength is of no
doubt, but as to your wits we shall see. I mark nights coming, I
will mark your end. I run not in fear, I am not your friend."
Another riddle to test us and we are directed to drink a silver cup
in the grotto. Entering the grotto we find a table set with five
cups, before a pool of water. Around the edge of the pool are
niches. Each cup was marked with a symbol. They did be mirror,
apple, hourglass, Athame, and key. Though my love of the Athame
knife tempted me to recommend that cup, we did discuss it and it
became clear the only cup that made sense was the hourglass.
Sadobras bravely drunk that cup and as he touched it, the symbol from
the cup became visible in front of one of the niches. Stone steps
rose from the water and Sadobras made his way out. Beneath water
dark as a white witches heart, he found a small cage he could not
open. Strange magic struck Yoska and he was almost suffocated as we
tried various things to find our way forward. Finally, Dalomar drank
again from the hourglass cup and entered the water. Using his skill
at opening locks he managed to retrieve what we sought and we brought
it back to the bird. Again an amulet did we receive and we are told,
"You have taken upon yourself a great burden. For what you
desire, the changeling holds. You will find the crone only when the
moon wanes." Inspecting the amulet we found this one to be
inscribed with the symbol for Gold. The bird left us and our path
lay clear, for three raven prophets Baba Yaga is known to have.
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| Drink from the proper cup and use the stepping stones or die! |
After twilight comes night, after night
comes dawn, and the symbol of Dawn is what we found on the next door.
Within, another raven spoke to us and said, "You must first
convince me of your resolve. Face what I, the herald of the coming
day. Each night it visits, sometimes horror, sometimes wonder,
sometimes profit. When the dawn wakes it flees. When you face this
thing you shall know its desire. In its desire you shall face your
own. Only by sharing this desire with me can I bind your fates.
Once they are bound, I will be able to see your destiny." The
voices in my head cry out at another riddle, but we have little
choice. Entering the next room we find a bed and a pale candle.
Upon the bed is an odd dark stain. Manifesting by the bed was a
creature of nightmare, a ghostly apparition of the 13th daughter of
Baba Yaga, Yelizaveta. We talk with this living dream and the rage
and anger within it seethes. Striking at Dalomar he sees a vision of
Yelizaveta being struck and killed by another older witch. Soon the
unthinking and un-chainable fear did seep into Dalomar and he ran as
fast as he could away. Through careful argument and manipulation of
the thing we were able to soon see the strong desire for revenge.
Revenge against Baba Yaga who killed the source of this thing. More
though, Yoska was able to learn of its strong desire as well for
freedom. Knowledge can be a dangerous thing. When Baba Yaga's
children retire they are known to go off and retire to do 'Something
else'. Now we know a secret that may be the death of us all. The
way the children of Baba Yaga are retired may be a bit more permanent
than most imagine. Taking the desires to the bird, we are told, "So
be it. Seek now the sisters three who are one. Mother, Maiden, and
Crone. Know that the maiden is elusive and may only be caught by the
waxing moon." Another riddle to solve and one that is
difficult. Are not all women born to be Mother, Maiden, and Crone?
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| A challenge of endurance.... She desires freedom and revenge!! |
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| The Witchdaughter's nightmare |
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| Sadobras just a little bit scared....Run Away!!!! |
After more exploration we found the
door to lead us towards the exit. Guarding the exit we found Ratabor
the Bold, once king of these lands and now in long servitude to Baba
Yaga. He did betray Baba Yaga to the Frost Giants years before and
his bondage is his punishment. Strange his name was to us as his
name was pronounced Rat-A-boar and our friend Noname was a rat bored
by a boar. Perhaps my reality is becoming even more slippery?
Ratobor tells us there is a Centaur city, Vernern, about 1-2 days to
the east. Artrosia, a place dominated by a massive statue of a
Mother, Maiden, and Crone is to the north. Ratobor also tells us
that Baba Yaga keeps valuable secrets at Artrosia and begs us to use
them to free him. Also, he does warn us that the climb to Artrosia
is guarded by many Wil'o'Wisps.
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| Ratibor The Bold: "Hey, how'd you get in here??" |
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| Artrosia |
The land of Iobaria is located east of the nation of Brevoy, north of the Castrovin Sea. It is considered part of the continent of Casmaron. Human settlers have united the land into an empire a few times, but right now the land is largely wilderness. It is subject to plagues, some of which have destroyed the aforementioned empires.
The Iobarian empire, at its height, stretched from the Icewall, Ice Steppes, and the Lake of Mists and Veils in the north to the Myrfrus River in the east, Mendev (past the Icerime Peaks and Hills of Nomen) to the west, and the Castrovin Sea to the south.
Iobaria is low-density and sparsely populated. About eight of every ten inhabitants live outside cities in settlements that are smaller than hamlets elsewhere. Other, non-human races live as nomads in packs that are smaller than that of an average village.
The Dvezda Marches are a frozen stretch of grassy steppes and untouched wilds that form the northeastern quarter of Iobaria. This unclaimed region is known by many names including the Wilds, the Witchwilds, the Plague Lands, and its old cyclopean name of Old Koloran. The region's current name comes from the Dvezda centaurs who claimed the marches as their territory and united the region's centaur clans before being wiped out by one of the region's many plagues.[1]
Centuars form the majority of the Dvezda Marches' inhabitants, and are divided into dozens of clans of several ethnicities. The Dvezda centaurs once ruled the Marches before being wiped out by a plague. The Rashalka centaurs, considered the most civilized, inhabit the Hoofwood and the surrounding lands. The stocky Azorva centaurs live in the western mountains, and the thick-furred Tsolniva centaurs inhabit the Eastern Ice Steppes.
Ruins of human and cyclopean settlements can be found, but the only humans encountered are usually treasure hunters, explorers, or bandits. Some Iobarian humans did not join in the mass exodus when the plagues struck, and their nomadic descendants continue to wander the eastern steppes in communities of fewer than 100 souls. These nomads, called plague folk by outsiders, refuse to settle in one place, and consider gathering in large groups a taboo for fear of catching a plague, instead following herd animals in their large, animal-skin tents, scrounging resources from the barren lands, and, on occasion, committing banditry upon unwary outsiders.
Leaving the hut we were beset by a band of Frost Giants. Angry at this assault and needing to take out frustration at the loss of our friend, we made quick work of them. The fact that many of them were kicked by a giant walking hut did help, but all of us managed to contribute. They seemed quite susceptible to slumber hexes and lightning.
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| Giants ambush the party as they attempt to leave the hut! |
Headed towards the Centaur city we met a group of them that keeps an eye on Baba's hut. There we were led to Korak Kaag, their leader, and learned they were scouts for the Reshalka tribe. Sadobras was highly enamored of the Centaurs as their power of charging is that of legends. Gifting the leader with a generous gift, Korak Kaag assigned us the services of Erdija to be our guide. She seems very capable and has begun teaching me the speech of the Iobarians. Additionally, Sadobras was gifted with a trained Warg, a powerful ally and possible mount.
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| Centaurs patrolling Hoofwood |
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| Korak Kaag |
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| Erdija, the new guide to Artrosia |
Onward we journey towards Vernern. There we hope to restock our supplies and prepare for whatever we will encounter at Artrosia in the Deepren Crevasse. On and on this journey goes. My magic blossoms and my companions grow mighty in their strength, but the risks have become more clear. Death in pain and agony may visit any of us. I am trying not to obsess on what we might find at Atrosia, but it is a place of legend to those who know of Baba Yaga. The secrets within call to me and may provide a way to the power to bring Noname back. I just hope no more of us shall die in gathering it and I hope that I can keep my motives pure. To have the power of a mighty witch like Baba Yaga for myself though... Even the voices within me quake and quiver at that thought.
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