TL;DR Episode 11 - Return to the House of Lament

**Short Summary:**

Tatyana hears Laurie Weathermay-Foxgrove calling to her for help in a dream. She asks Tatyana to bring her friends back to the House of Lament to rescue her and her sister, who are trapped. Tatyana wakes up and begins packing, telling the rest of the party. They consider going to get Fen from Isolde’s tent so that she can come with them, but decide against disturbing them. They leave a note and a message with Hermos for Fen, and Mist Walk back to the crossroads where they first met.

The house shows no signs of the damage they did on their last visit, and there is no sign of the Weathermay-Foxgrove sisters. The party enters the house as it begins to storm, and returns to the parlor and the spirit board. The planchette tells them to “evict the chimney witch.” Tatyana goes exploring alone and finds a giant muffin. When she starts to eat it, she finds a human toe inside. As she is being sick, a hand reaches out of the fireplace and pulls Nahara in. The party runs to the kitchen to rescue Nahara and find themself facing off against the specter of a hag. They defeat it after it badly damages Tatyana, though it curses her as it dies.

Tatyana goes into a rage from the cursed axe. She attacks Nahara and misses before Uriah brings her back to herself. As Tatyana goes to apologize to Nahara, Stewart blasts both her and Uriah, knocking her unconscious.

Valentine tries to get rid of Stewart, but Nahara and Tregrum both argue on Stewart’s behalf. She is also compelled not to get rid of the jar. Valentine tells Stewart not to hurt her friends anymore, and he apologizes. As they try to decide where to go next, Tatyana’s shadow begins acting on its own. They finally decide to barricade themselves into the parlor and put as much light on Tatyana as possible to keep her shadow at bay. They all do their best to rest and recover inside the parlor.

But Uriah is pulled before Strahd in his sleep. Strahd asks him where Nahara is, revealing that she’s important to both him and Azalin. When Uriah tells him he was just with Nahara, Strahd tells him to give a message to Azalin for him: Check.

**Notables this episode:**

We find out Stewart is capable of missing friendly targets, he just chooses not to.

Deejay’s dog joins the cast, barking at an opportune moment to inspire Desmond when he’s considering finding shelter outside the house for the night.

(spoiler for the House of Lament module in Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft) The party refuses to enter the dining room, frightened and unwilling to find out what the child-sized thing is under the sheet - ironically, it’s one of the most harmless rooms in the house.

Whatever new curse has been placed on Tatyana is strong enough to push Tregrum out of her head.

Tatyana now has three curses that we know of.

We learn through a fourth wall break that Nahara is the person Uriah cares about most.

**Firsts:**

The first time the party chooses to leave Fen behind, because they’re afraid of disturbing her with Isolde.

Tregrum mentions “home” and that they will be called back soon along with Valentine.

The knight speaks to them through the spirit board this time instead of the warlord.

Deejay rolls a critical success immediately followed by a critical failure - to find where Nahara has been taken by the chimney witch, and then to pull her out of the fire.

Valentine gets her own charm spells turned against her when she tries to get rid of Stewart.

**Crit Count:**

4 successes, 1 failures

**Memorable Lines:**

Valentine: Fun, so what we’re setting up here is that we’re all going to a place that we’re likely going to kill each other.

Uriah: A little.

Uriah: Oh god, it’s just so palpably evil!

Tatyana: Okay. You’re alright, small man. (she hugs him)

Valentine: Who’s the authority?

Tregrum: Oh, Valentine. You will *love* it. (stops talking)

Valentine: This was not the point. My point was, I was reaching out because you have space in my head and I don’t like the idea that that person at the Carnival was able to access thoughts in here. I am asking you to keep people out.

Tregrum: You know, this is actually kind of difficult for me, because I’ve made such a graceful and dramatic exit. And then now it’s like I’ve left the room, but then I have to come back and talk more. I will do what I can to shield your mind, but there are limits to what I can do in here.

Valentine: Fine, would you like to make a dramatic exit again?

Desmond: I don’t appreciate backwards ideas! You just said get out and locked the doors!