(Ok, here's the plan I want to try with my phaser now that it's charged up. I'm going to try and hold her up with my phaser which should make her stop attacking temporarily. I'll claim its more powerful than any magic and offer it to her in exchange she gets all of us out of the dungeon. I'll activate the overload on the phaser and toss it to her. At this moment Tanea should cast a "Dispel Magic" on her to take down any shields she may have. Then we should all take cover (maybe behind cauldron) to protect ourselves from the explosion. If successful, Roy, Strigon, and Yeenwi will strike with offensive and/or debuffing spells. Tanea armed with the dagger will rush the witch and stab her. If her character can't do it, I'll offer to deliver the killing blow. Any thoughts on the plan? Any changes anyone would like to make?)

Oh god ... _and_ we have a "deadline". :-(

(I doubt an incredibly evil Hag gets the opportunity to get as equally powerful as she is evil if she were stupid, so I won't be surprised if she doesn't fall for that "powerful weapon some random person just hands over to someone incredibly evil for nothing but said incredibly evil person's word to get them out of here". (Maybe you should specify alive and unharmed and make sure she promises, not to kill/harm us once she helped us get out? But I doubt that would do much in helping convincing her about your motivs.)

(The bigger problem is: How does BenKii make this plan known to all companions without the powerful incredibly evil Hag overhearing it?
Also: Tanea would probably have no problem rushing to cover somewhere. But what about the Drows and Half-Orc (which are probably more inclined to fight) ?)

(Tanea is probably scared enough now to "grow up" or something and try to do her part with the dagger.
But she is still wondering about the rats attacking the group earlier. Did they do it on their own or did Cassandra order them to? If she ordered them she is probably "evil in disguise" _and_ (unlike Gertrude) she is holding that staff already, meaning if Gertrude dies, Cassandra will probably kill us immediatly _if_ she is evil in disguise.
So: Tanea will probably cast "Dispel Magic" on both of them (to see if Cassandra is a Hag in disguise or not), just to be sure we don't get stabbed in the back later.)

(EDIT: On a sidenote: I read, that Hags despise all things beautiful, so there is a chance, they might not make themselves look such, _but_ Cassandra can't see herself without "help" so ... maybe she wouldn't mind if she were a Hag?)

(EDIT2: I just asked Doc in chat, where exactly Gertrude appeared. I have no idea where everyone of us are in relation to her and I'm worried to post actions before I know those details.)

(Personally, I think Cassandra is on the side of good. I could be wrong but Doc seems to be pushing that narrative.)

(The Hag is always seeking more power so by telling her I have something more powerful than her magic should pique her interest. I'm thinking about how best to word it to her but I think it might work. Before I do anything I'll whisper to the group to hold off on any attacks until I give the signal.)

(Doc answered: "She appeared in the middle and no it didn't kill Cassandra."
Not sure, if that whispering will work in this case.)
(I don't know what Doc is playing. Tanea is supposed to have high intelligence. It's weird that she says "I do not possess the killing magics to take her down though." and wants Tanea, who doesn't have those killing magics either, to do the job. But I could very well be reading something into this that isn't there.
But then again: I read that Hags procreate by eating an infant and giving birth a week later. There are no male Hags, so unless Doc took some liberties there, Cassandra must be a Hag too, because they "share a mother".)

(I have an idea to tell everyone the plan. Here's a partial rough draft of my actions "I yell to my party members, "Everyone get behind the cauldron!" while simultaneously handing Tanea my Tricorder and whispering to her, "When you hear a beaping sound, attack with your spells. Trust me." I've tied my comm badge to my Tricorder. When I press the comm button, it will give an audible beap from my Tricorder signalling to the others to attack.")

(I'll ask Doc in Chat first if this is possible. The phaser got charged so maybe the rest are also charged.)

(Okay. That might work.
Importang: But Tanea will move close to Cassandra and cast "Dispel Magic" on her first. Should she turn out to be a Hag too, she will instead attempt to use that dagger to kill her, because she will hope that that lightning bolt might have given an opening to actually achieve the kill. Which probably sounds all kinds of wrong in the head of a Halfling, who lived a peaceful life so far.)

(If she really is bad then that would be a good preemptive strike. But if she turns out to really be a good guy then you might remove any protections she might have casted on herself leaving an opening for the Hag to kill her. I think it would be a better idea to have her as an ally and deal with the evil in front of us first. We'll deal with Cassandra afterwards.)

(Of course another way of looking at it. The Hag could think we are on her side by casting Dispel Magic on Cassandra making Gertrude more susceptible to believing the phaser lie.)

(Doc just answered me. Yes, the comm badge and tricorder are charged so that will work. But not everyone might be able to get behind the cauldron. Doc gave me the placements for everyone. BenKii and Tanea (also Shins since I was carrying him) are near the cauldron speaking with Cassandra while Yeenwi, Strigon, and Roy are not. Gertrude appeared between those two groups. I'll adjust my actions accordingly to see if I can get them behind the cauldron or get Cassandra to cast some kind of protection spell like Globe of Protection around that group. Otherwise they may get caught in the blast.)

(Well, that blast might turn the cauldron into a projectile and kill those behind it anyway.
What we would need, would be a little mountain or something to hide behind. Which isn't there.
Tanea will probably run of into the forest, if Cassandra is not a Hag. To try and come at Gertrude from behind, hopefully unnoticed, but probably not that lucky.)

Captain's Log Stardate 73346.6
I am reasonably assured that Cassandra is not our enemy. Her answers appear true and benevolent. But now the Hag, Gertrude, has arrived. Was she the same one that we encountered earlier who had kidnapped Roosevelt? No, this one was a different kind of ugly. For all I know, that Hag may have already killed Roosevelt and all the rest of our party. Loradan, Gillius, Siegfried, Rufus, Fish and even that sneaky Dwarf, Peloquin, all could be dead. We might be the last line of defense against this monstrosity and I will not go down without a fight. However, she is extremely powerful as evidenced by our last encounter. We may seem outnumbered against the odds but we have more intelligence to outsmart her and more courage to outlast her. Also, a Type-II Federation issued phaser that just got its power back.

I speak to the party, "Everyone! Get to cover!" while simultaneously handing Tanea my Tricorder and whispering to her, "When you hear a beeping sound, attack with your spells. Tell Cassandra. She'll telepathically tell the others. Trust me." I've tied my comm badge to my Tricorder. When I press the comm button, it will give an audible beep from my Tricorder signalling to the others to attack. I wield my phaser and temporarily set it back to vaporize firing at one of the toadstools (this proves my weapons capabilities to the Hag) before putting it back on overload. I then aim at the Hag and speak to her, "Halt Gertrude! I have aimed at you a weapon more powerful than any magic you possess capable of vaporizing your flesh at the speed of light. You'll be dead before you can even twitch your lip to spellcast. Now that I have your attention, I want to make a bargain with you. All I care about is the safety of my people and getting out of this dungeon. If you promise that no harm will come to them and get us out of this place, you can have this weapon and use it to destroy your sister. Deal?" If at any moment Gertrude attempts to attack me, I activate the overload and toss the phaser at her. Whether or not she agrees to the deal, I activate the overload and toss her the phaser. 15 seconds till critical failure. After the phaser toss, I press the comm badge and run as fast as I can to pick up the painting and Shins while yelling to Cassandra, "Cassandra! Cast something to protect our friends behind Gertrude!". Carrying Shins and the painting, I hightail it into the forest to take cover behind one of the trees. If the trees are not an option then I hide behind the cauldron. After the explosion, I get up and see if I can finish the Hag off with my sword.

(In all reality: BenKii will never be able to do all that within 5 seconds. He will probably die in the blast, depending on how close to it he is and/or how big the blast is - if there will be one. We don't know what abilities the Hag has. Which also means, she could fling/reflect it back at BenKii/us.)
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Tanea, Halfling Shaman (female)
BenKii peeks into the cauldron and doesn't seem to see anything suspicious. He lays Shins down on top of the "Bridge Painting", but nothing happens. If a fight happens while he is with us and still in that unresponsive state, he might die. I can't hide from the truth anymore. We all will probably die. We didn't beat one Hag, when the whole group was still together and now there are only five of us left plus Shins - against three Hags. I grow anxious.
I listen to BenKii and Strigon asking questions and Cassandra answering them. I want to believe, but ... She never really answered any of our important questions. And then there are all the new ones: Was that a trap/lock on Cassandra's door? She invited us to come. If she put it there, why didn't she "unlock" the door for us? Where are the other two Hags? Why is there a spell active keeping Cassandra in this place until "her sister" Gertrude is dead? What does this "squabble between siblings" have to do with any of us? And like Cassandra: I don't possess the skills or spells to take on such a powerful foe either. How am I supposed to do that?
Cassandra speaks to me in my head again: "It is time little one, we all have to make sacrifices for the greater good. Do you think Gertrude will spare you and your companions when she gets here? Or what about your new four legged friends by me?" When I automatically look at them upon hearing that, one lifts its head and twitches its whiskers at me.
I stare at the bone dagger again, still unsuccessfully trying to discern, what creature this bone belonged to, as Cassandra presses the handle of it into my palm. I'm horrified and automatically ask the spirits to help the spirit that belonged to this bone to find rest ... and the gods for forgiveness, although at this point I don't quite know what for. I didn't kill it. I didn't fashion its bone into a weapon either. Where did Cassandra get it? What did she get it for, if she is so good natured? To kill her sister? Was that before or after she ended up in this place? What is this greater good? Is she honest or treacherous?
Suddenly Cassandra straightens up. "She comes" is all she says and the rats try to find shelter somewhere between the trees.
Gertrude appears in a crash of thunder and out of a cloud of acrid black smoke into the middle of us. Cassandra, BenKii, Shins and me on one side of her, Roy, Strigon and Yeenwi on the other. I half expected to see the grey bloated belly of the Hag that took Roosevelt with her again, but this one is short and stocky, with a purple hue to her skin. I feel panic rising. We didn't have a chance with the other one when there were more of us and this one is even more powerful?! Through the panic I hear her say to Cassandra: "So 'sister' tis the day of reckoning for yous!" What did Cassandra do?! What does this have to do with any of us?! And with these thoughts Gertrude attacks ... Strigon. Cassandra parries with a spell of her own to protect him and gets slammed with a lightening bolt, sending her crashing back into a toadstool. Why are there five toadstools in here, when she was all alone for 500 years? I can't help this stray thought from coming up, neither the desperate although silent prayer to Yondalla ... and ... Dallah Thaun. I need both of you now. Please ... Forgive me.

Tanea, Halfling Shaman (female)
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58 - FlockeSchnee - Tanea - Halfling Shaman
1. Tanea casts "Dispel Magic" on Gertrude.
2. Tanea keeps the bone dagger in one hand and with the other pulls out one of her Healing potions while hurrying over to Cassandra. She casts "Dispel Magic" on her once she gets into striking range of the dagger.

A) Should the spell _not_ reveal Cassandra to be a Hag:
3. Tanea gives Cassandra the healing potion just in case she might need it and helps her to get behind cover if needed.
4. Tanea casts "Ice Elemental" near Shins und tells him to pick Shins up and hurry in the opposite direction of the Hag between/behind the tress and show her pictures from what he sees there.
5. If she can still act: If BenKii told Tanea to relay information to Cassandra, she will do so.

B) Should the spell reveal Cassandra to be a Hag:
3. Tanea tries to kill her with the bone dagger, using the healing potion as a distraction if possible/needed. Maybe go for the throat to prevent Cassandra from using spells, if possible.
4. If she can still act:
a) If Cassandra dies: Tanea summons "Ice Elemental" near her in a big enough free spot, hands Cassandra's oak staff to the Ice Elemental and tells it to hurry into the trees/woods/forest in the opposite direction from the Hag and stay away from the Hag, until told otherwise.
b) If Cassandra survives: Tanea tries to survive too (so maybe she can try harder next dice roll?)
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Starting equipment (Staff, 2x Heal potion).
SINCE TURN 10:
19 spell casts available; 1 spell cast used, 18 remaining; new equipment: bone dagger

(I put that timer in there mostly for dramatic effect. I can extend it or remove it entirely if that makes any difference. I noticed you sent Shins into the forest with the Ice Elemental in your turn. Do you think that would be a better place to hide from the blast than behind the cauldron?)

(My plan is quite simple. Trick the Hag into accepting my bomb then Tanea hits her with a Dispel Magic to take down any shields she may have. You, Yeenwi, and Roy blast her with any long range spells you have and get away from her before the phaser explodes. The only problem with this is that I don't have a proper "game way" of telling everyone the plan without the Hag overhearing. That is why I devised a way for Cassandra to telepathically tell you all when to strike. Everyone should hold off on any attacks until the signal is given so that you have the best chance to take her out.)

The rats seem to think the trees are safe. I think I'll take cover there instead.

Edited my actions