Old Bonegrinder
A decaying windmill hides a monstrous secret—where night hags bake dream pastries from the bones of Barovia’s children. Old Bonegrinder challenges adventurers to confront horror not just with blades, but with conscience.
The Heart of Horror in a Hollowed Windmill
Perched on a lonely hilltop overlooking the Svalich Valley, Old Bonegrinder presents one of the most chilling encounters in Barovia. Once a working grain mill that served the nearby town of Vallaki, it has since fallen into ruin and become the home of a coven of night hags who prey on the desperation of Barovian villagers. Within its slanted walls and creaking timbers, cruelty is ground into ritual, and innocence is transformed into something far more terrible.
This chapter provides a disturbing look at the twisted domestic life of Barovia’s most infamous hags, the methods they use to spread corruption, and the moral dilemmas that adventurers must confront.
Lore: Twisting Innocence into Indulgence
The windmill known as Old Bonegrinder has become the den of three night hags — Morgantha and her daughters, Bella Sunbane and Offalia Wormwiggle. Though trapped in Barovia like all others, they thrive in the land's gloom. Posing as mortal women, they peddle their infamous "dream pastries" — enchanted mincemeat pies made from the bones of children.
The pastries grant brief respite to those who consume them, inducing vivid dreams of joy and freedom. For many Barovians, they represent the only escape from Strahd’s shadow. But the cost is steep. When villagers can no longer afford the pastries, the hags offer trades: coin for flesh, exchanging sweets for children. In a land already steeped in despair, this transaction highlights the selfishness and decay of Barovia's society.
The hags focus only on children with souls, using a cruel test to determine worth. Those who cry when pricked are deemed viable. The rest are left untouched. The resulting bone meal becomes a core ingredient in their alchemical baking.
Area Layout: Floors of Foul Purpose
The windmill rises across four levels, each presenting its own threats and environmental storytelling.
1. Ground Floor – Kitchen of the Damned
The bottom floor is a repurposed kitchen, filled with filthy cookware, baskets, and a warm oven baking a fresh batch of dream pastries. A barrel of demon ichor in the center serves both as a scrying tool and a summoning font for Morgantha. Various alchemical ingredients line the cabinet, including elixirs with unique effects. The space is chaotic, reeking of pastries, rot, and cruelty.
