Session 21: Top Shelf Hags Report

General Summary

Azid did some light shopping to better equip his zombies and skeletons, while Kouvian went to the Havershamble's to get his new weapon, the Hammerfist. With the team equipped, it was time to get Lief. The ghost led them to the third floor and opened the portal to the demi-plane of the hags. They walked through, and the gateway closed behind them, trapping them in the new realm.

Forest of the Green Hags

Upon entering a dark and foreboding forest, the Rat Pack found some skittish woodsmen. The two men warn them that the forest is infested with green hags and that they should beware. They mentioned that Linah Bovon recently took a posse into the woods to rescue her lost daughter but was never seen again. Kouvian was upset by the whole situation, and as he argued with Azid, the foresters left them.
Time and distance worked differently in this forest. They spent what felt like days working their way along a winding road. Along the way, they met talking animals who shared honey with them. They also found a cabin with a kindly old woman named Olga living in it. Olga told them of a time before the hags when the forest knew daylight. She let the group eat and rest in her cabin before leaving again.
Azid decided to go off the beaten path and take their trek through the woods. This took them to a lake where a merwoman approached them. When the merfolk learned that they would kill hags, she presented Kouvian with a magical silver sword called Mourneblade. Azid determined that it was indeed a powerful weapon but that it was also cursed. Kouvian kept the weapon safe until he could determine what to do with it.
Somehow, they were turned around and ended up back at Olga's cabin, only the lights were out this time. When they checked in on her, they saw a shadowy form in the room, which seemed to be feeding on something. They burst in and fought a werewolf. They slew the beast, but not before it bit and passed its curse on to Stinkbreak. The beast turned back into Olga, and they saw that she had been feeding on a child.
Eventually, they reached the forest's center, where a great bonfire raged. There were two cages with women in each. They claimed to be Linah Bovon and her teenage daughter. They freed the women and began searching for Lief's bones. As they were, the two women turned into hags and attacked them. Geasle viciously wounded the largest of the two hags, and the rest did short work destroying them.
A portal appeared along with Lief, who helped them to find his bones. He told them they should hurry because something was happening at the tavern.

The Red Masks

Eddinna was waiting for their return in the manor. She told Azid that this strange old man was demanding to see them downstairs and that there were Red Masks with him.
Azid took the lead and went down, berating the man and demanding he leave. The older halfling did not care about Azid's tone and asked where his diamond was. Azid insisted that they didn't know what he was talking about and that he should leave before there was trouble. The old man smiled grimly and agreed to leave.
After the man and his guards left, Kouvian questioned whether letting him leave like that was wise. Azid disagreed and said he suspected the diamond he was after was the Doom Croaker, which they did not have. He said it might be time to contact Quranis regarding the missing gemstone.
Suddenly, an explosion could be heard from outside!
They ran toward the explosion and saw a dagger in their door with a note that read "war." On the street, it looked like a fireball had been cast on the Appleton's grocer. They ran to the fire to help and saw that one of the young twins had been caught and killed in the blast.

Rewards Granted

1,550 experience to Azid, Kouvian, Stinkbreath, and Geasle.