Reign of Winter #25, Mother Maiden Crone: Artrosia part 4: Yeah, this place is getting a little dangerous- bone devils, undead flaming witches, redcaps -- WTF!

Zaaz's journal entry:

A flaming undead hag.  Will the strangeness of this place never end.  I recognize that Baba Yaga doesn't have the best reputation as a witch and she's been known to employ a hag or two, but one that shoots sickly green flames seems a bit much. The day started out so well too....

Snorri came back from his run to town loaded down with cold iron weapons, supplies and of all things, a bee hive.  Perhaps I'm really just seeing visions granted by the voices.  Certainly the gods know I am seeing strange things.

We went onward to explore the areas we have not finished yet.  Wrapped in magical darkness and some other spell, Dalomar found a door with a symbol of a cold and barren landscape upon it.  Letting us know what he had found, he returned to us and we decided that it most likely was a portal to the crone and best saved for another time.

The other way, near the area we had found the creatures of light, Dalomar's scouting found two Bonedevils.  While at this point we all enjoy a good fight, Bone Devils have a fearsome  reputation and likely would not be something we could handle without losses.  

Bone devils in Artrosia!!??  What's going on?

 Taking the better part of valor we retreated a bit, discussed and decided to go back to the door with the motif of the pregnant woman.  Exploring into that area we found a Jadrenka's lover, Marislova.  It seems that one of the hags had put into Jadrenka's head that her lover was cheating on her and so the lovers were on the outs.  She thought we were one of Jadranka's tricks and we thought perhaps she was another hag.   

misunderstanding followed misunderstanding till finally we went our separate ways.   Her room which had appeared grand and beautiful we quickly learned was mere illusion and actually quite poor.   We did find quite a few items Marislova left behind in her haste including scrolls, bottled yeti fur, jewelry, gold, platinum and more.

Moving on from there Dalomar's scouting soon found a hatch bearing an image of the one eyed crone.  Examining the magical aura we guessed it was linked to the crone statue.  Dalomar scouted down and found a chimney with climbing rungs set on the wall.   Down he went till he saw the area near the bottom held several Red Caps.   A nasty and trixy fay they are and powerful despite their small size.  Throwing caution to the wind, as usual, Snorri flew down to meet the Red Caps and try to sell us to them.  After trying to get them to eat some poisoned baby scalps, he tries to tell them that he also works for Baba.  Not sure if this works or not, the rest of us head down to see what’s up.  Yoska and I jump down using our feather fall ability.  Nearing the bottom I call forth my magic and web part of the room, unfortunately not really catching very much.  Between the group of us through we make quick work of these corrupted fay.

Finishing the trip to the bottom we found another door.   This one with the image of the pregnant mother and with muck piled around in front of it.   Dalomar managed to get it open for us and soon down a corridor we found a cozy room.  Fire burns in a hearth, a beautiful iron and copper cauldron stands ready.   A Giant image of a fanged crone with wings and a donkey tail decorates the place.  A table with pan pipes and a bowl upon it giving the room an inviting feel.   And finally, by the Dark Alter lit with Witchfire, an undead hag wreathed in sickly green flames.....