Family Issues

## Summary

After the party's short rest, Jade catches up with the group commenting on the dreams she had. She also got a Warwick doll from Blinsky's toys. Talice wants to see if it's a voodoo doll but Jade doesn't give hers up. The party reached Berez after a little while with Talice and the zombie leading the way.

They come upon a ramshackled home. The ravens want to be free and know that someone evil is inside. It's where the flower is pointing to so Edmund asks Warwick to look around stealthily. He frees the birds but they park on top of the tree and tell the group to flee.

Warwick takes his time retreating but sees a figure in a tub. The party spots a light on the other side of the river so Talice uses Water Walk. They meet a woman who's dressed like the Martikovs/innkeepers. She's thankful to the group for freeing the Ravens. She mentions that the hag of the house, Baba Lysaga, is in league with Strahd and insane. Apparently she's older than Strahd as well.

The woman talks about the flooding of Berez and about the murderous scarecrows under the hag's care. Talice and Edmund figures out an idea to use Warwick's abilities to transform into Strahd. Warwick isn't for the idea but decides to do it anyway. The woman also mentions druids using the stones. Salem noted that the stones were blessed by the nature gods to protect against scrying and enhances druidic magic.

The party tries to get the woman to help them but she refuses. Warwick enters the house disguised as Strahd and Baba Lysaga is delighted to see him. She claims to be Strahd's mother as Warwick spots the tub she was in filled with blood. She mentions wereravens which get the rest of the party's interest. He does find the gem underneath the floorboards and gives the Sorin doll to her.

Warwick meets up with the rest of the party outside. Everyone is surprised and happy that the deception worked. Warwick kisses Jade on the forehead still transformed. She punches him as a result. Warwick yells at the woman for getting him face-to-face with Strahd's mother when Baba Lysaga is actually his nursemaid.

The party leaves Berez quickly and Krik spots a bird following him. Warwick suggests that the woman was a wereraven. It's confirmed when she appears in front of them holding a note mentioning Mad Mary's daughter. The party finds her body near the ruined mansion of Berez mangled up and destroyed. Warwick gives a small prayer while Edmund takes the body down. He spots a glow underneath the tree and digs up a sword of sunlight. They realize one of the prophecies is fulfilled as a presence within the sword talks to him. The party figures out that he did this because Talice insulted him. Edmund gets angry that another child is killed which makes sense given the fortune. The party apologizes and the woman introduces herself as Muriel. Corpses rise which signal the party to bolt. They hurry back to the fires and Muriel leaves.

The party return to Vallaki with Jade unhappy at Talice for indirectly causing someone's death. As they head back, they hear the sounds of battle around them. The party hears the sounds of battle and it's similar to the battle with Arghovost. Edmund drops off the body at the church with Milivoj helping out. Jade claims the sunlight blade and feels right holding it.

Edmund teaches her meditation to attune to the blade as the rest of the party falls asleep. The sword is given the name Gragarius (Greg for short) and it feels familiar. The party returns to the Wizard's Winery leaving Salem to continue resting. The group returned the gem and Sorin decided to stay behind to protect the winery from future attacks. The party also decides to take down Morgantha on the way to the Village of Barovia.

## Notable Events

* The party arrives in Berez
* Warwick gets the first gem from Baba Lysaga
* Mad Mary's daughter is revealed to be dead.
* Edmund Edmer finds the sword of sunlight mentioned in the fortune
* Jade gets attuned to the sword of sunlight calling it Gragarius
* The party returns the first gem to the Wizard's Winery
* This was GoldenFox's last session