### **Session Journal: 02-07-2025** ### **Seeking the Truth from Lady Wachter** The party sought an audience with **Lady Wachter** to investigate the **protective circle** that **Stella** had glimpsed while traversing the Ethereal Plane. Through careful persuasion, they convinced Lady Wachter to **lower the barrier**, proving Stella’s experience was real. As soon as the barrier fell, Stella made her presence known—**manipulating objects** to confirm her existence to her mother. Faced with undeniable proof, **Lady Wachter** agreed to help—but under one condition. To **trap the hags**, she required their **true names**—or **all of their names** if more than one was involved. ### **An Omen on the Road** After relaying this information to **Victor**, the party set out with Lady Wachter and her associates toward **Old Bonegrinder**. Along the way, they encountered a **druid of Yester Hill**, who made a cryptic remark about Lady Wachter’s **family debt** to **Strahd**. Lady Wachter dismissed the claim, stating that Strahd had once **saved her ancestors** from **Leo Dilisnya**, who had murdered one of her forebears. While there may have been a debt in the past, she insisted it had long been repaid. ### **Old Bonegrinder: The Rescue and the Contract** Upon reaching the **windmill**, Lady Wachter set a firm condition—she **would not proceed** with the ritual if **children** were still trapped inside. This left the party with two critical tasks: - **Find the contract** containing the hags' **true names** - **Rescue any children** hidden inside the windmill To avoid suspicion, **Komodo** and **Dain** engaged **Morgantha, Ophalia, and Bella** in conversation, stalling for time. Meanwhile, **Nala** slipped upstairs to search for the captives. Her search proved successful—she discovered **two terrified children** locked away. In the same room, she uncovered an **aged parchment**, possibly **the contract** they needed. But time was running out. Morgantha’s **patience** was wearing thin, and **suspicions were rising**. If the party doesn't act soon, their chance to escape without a fight would be lost.