When we last left our Witchlight Lost, they had made it to the Feywild, captured the self-proclaims Brigand Prince, Agdon Longscarf, and are in the town of Downfall, trying to see Bavlorna. Bavlorna Blightstraw is a member of the Hourglass Coven, a group of hag witches that have seized control of Prismeer from the rightful ruler (and warlock patron of Arawa Sunshard) Zybilna. As a powerful witch, a direct fight could be dangerous, but regardless, she holds many things our heroes are searching for.
To start, Agdon has informed the party that he has been stealing things for Bavlorna, and it’s possible the precious thing each hero lost might be here in her treasure.
They’ve also encountered a scarecrow from another part of the feywild named Clapperclaw. He claims his glorious staghead skull has gone missing and is forced to wear a gourd instead. The clinking inside intrigues Bother.
Just outside Bavlorna’s cottage, they also encountered the wood elf Octavian Meliamne, the bard who accidentally lost his heart to the old hag when he tried to seek a way to heal his emotional pain.
Lastly, they need to find a way to her servant, Jingle Jangle, who has the key to Sir Talavar’s cage. Sir Talavar is the small dragon friend stuck in a metal birds cage and a servant of the Summer Queen. He was initially captured by Bavlorna when he sought to find out what happened to Zybilna.
And so, they found themselves in Downfall, a town built in the swamp of Bavlorna’s magic, over what used to be a bustling little metropolis long ago. Members of the Soggy Court, corrupt and bickering bullywugs, oversee the town, and attempt to carry out the will of Bavlorna, at least when they aren’t planning to assassinate each other. The party also encountered a pair of Darklings selling seemingly random trash in the north, from their storm balloon shop. They were strangely rude to new customers.
To gain entrance to Bavlorna’s Cottage, Thala agreed to take on the King of the Soggy Court’s behalf (King Gullop the 29th) Bavlorna’s Big Book of Bad Blood and use it to parley with the hag. The king is in a precarious position, as many are upset with his rule, and seek to usurp him with another named Illig, the Baron of Muckstump, who they believe will serve Bavlorna much more zealously.
The whole thing stinks, and not just because it’s a swamp. Few people have given the party reason to trust them.
Just as the party finally gained entrance to Bavlorna’s cottage, they found themselves in a strange, old toy shop. There they fought against the puppets and machinations of the Carionette King, Maligno. To escape, they struck down his human servant/father Giuseppe and severed whatever connection brought them to this seemingly random place.
As they rise from the darkness, they finally find themselves in the cottage of the swamp hag.
