Episode 13
From Hags to Riches
In this Holiday Special, Anton leads the group through Rhorsia Forest to confront the coven of hags once and for all.
Recap
After dealing with a swarm of stirges while traversing the Rhorsia Forest, the adventurers found the home of the wretched hags – the ones responsible for creating the Crimson Knuckles.
Entering the massive, hollowed out tree hovel, two green hags greeted them. Willa spotted the decapitated head of Harren Bog hanging from a cage, and the hags revealed they were aware of their capture, expecting the party’s arrival. In exchange for a new hag-sister to reunite their broken coven, Auntie Alta and Wicked Paula promised magic, power, wealth – anything they desired – from the Hag Mother.
Finding their ways vile and evil, the group saw the hags turn hostile, and a battle ensued. Gemma’s wild magic caused her face to melt away to her skull, which initially frightened her own party members. As Wicked Paula moved through the floor like a ghost, Willa managed to knock out Auntie Alta in a decision to spare her life. Her own sister, however, didn’t have the same concerns, unleashing a powerful Lightning Bolt, which killed Alta, knocked out Willa, and brought Anton and Raz’sik close to death.
In a desperate attempt to protect her friends, Gemma approached Wicked Paula for a melee magic attack, but it failed and was met by a vicious slash of the hag’s claws. Close to death herself, Wicked Paula decided to flee to save her own life, disappearing through the walls. Sovemil immediately rushed to heal the party, and they grappled with what to do next.
Searching the upper floor, the skeleton of the third hag of the coven was discovered in a bed. It appeared she died an unnatural, magical death. Gemma found a glowing glass sphere, which turned out to be a Driftglobe. The party set fire to the hags’ home and began their return to Oaktown while wrestling with the ramifications of their actions. Raz’sik continued to give vague answers about the magic orb discovered beneath the Spire, seemingly unwilling to go against his orders while also wishing for Gemma to keep it, ultimately placing the decision in the sorceress’s hands.