The road is long, with many a winding turn. 11 hours pass, though the wagon moves swiftly, the horses need no coaxing to move as quickly as they can, time seems to just drag on and on and you feel as if you may never reach Yester Hill. Davian assures you it's just a bit farther, and a flock of ravens seems to guide you through the foggy forest.

MAP:
https://www.dndbeyond.com/atta.../700/600/761/031.jpg
(You are at y1, the bottom of the hill, a trail leads up 600 feet to the top of the hill)

The trail through the thick woods leads to a hill covered with dead grass and cairns of black rock. Dark, ominous clouds gather high above, and a single bolt of lightning is frozen in time as it strikes the hilltop. West of the hill, the land, the woods, and the sky vanish behind a towering wall of fog.

Ireena stands in her seat on the wagon, "Oh Night Mother...that lightning!!!!"

Dag: "Are we too late, Davian?"

Davian: "They have awakened Gulthias! Kavan is sure to follow swiftly behind."

He stops the wagon and gets off. "I will be back shortly..." A stretching of the face until it is shaped like a beak. Shortening of the spine until is is only two feet tall. Blackening of the skin until it is nothing but feathers, his clothes fall to the mud around him. The process takes but a moment and he is flying away.

Brankx, the whole trip was his usual stoic self, muttering and such.  The only times he wasn't was when he heard sounds on the road, hs scouting training kicking in. "Damn place seems in constant gloom....would it kill th' sun ter shine here?" he muttered.

They came to the hill and the dwarf was speechless at the sight. "Murkul's black asscheeks - What in the nine hells is that!" The dwarf takes out his daggers, sure he'd soon need them.

...since arriving here, he's constantly felt that

Zrakrud still watched the road as they travelled, amazed by all the vegetation, as they came to the hill he just looked upon the frozen lighting with a sense of awe. Only Brankx comment brought him to attention to the others and the shape changing Davian. He watched as the Raven now circled towards the top of the Hill "What magic to do such a thing."

Skuldja also stared at the lightning also in awe.

The others speaking finally took her attention away from it. "What's a Gulthias?"

Ireena begins to explain the story of Gulthias, "The legends say that long before Strahd came to rule this valley there was a mighty war cheiftain Kavan. He was much like a vampire, though he was not. Gulthias was his queen, a fey creature, what some may call a dryad. Kavan was buried here under the Gulthias Tree, together their spirits keep Strahd from seeing into the mist."

Then she explains the next obvious question: "This place is called Yester Hill because the dark powers allow anyone to see through the mists into the past: adventurers like you often see their homes, but for the rest of us, we see Strahd's home from before he came to conquer this valley."

Might be worth checking out once you take care of whatever the druids are up to.

map again: https://www.dndbeyond.com/atta.../700/600/761/031.jpg

A raven returns and lights upon the wagon. He shifts back into Davian, who hops down off the wagon before you can see him in the nude. He begins dressing while explaining, "At the center of the hill (y3) there are 4 druids, and they have summoned some sort of elemental golem. The lightning is reacting to one of the winery crystals that has been placed inside a wooden statue that is shaped like Strahd. I'm not sure how much longer until the ritual is finished, and then who knows what they will do or how we will stop them.

A hundred feet south is the Gulthias Tree, seemingly left alone. We might be able to wake her and have her fight the golem. What do you think?"

1. Sneak around to Gulthias??? Everyone stealth DC10
2. Go to the center and try to stop the summoning before it ends? Everyone stealth dc13

"Perhaps those of us that are fleet of our feet can move to this tree and try to wake it? While others seek to stop this ritual?" Zrakrud offered, though he was not usually keen on dividing forces, sometimes it was necessary.

Brankx was still reeling from the story as the news came. "Dryad, magic....what in the nine hells!" He looked around and sighed. Looking at the group, she shrugged. "I'm no good with magic and can move quietly when needed. Let me get to th' tree. Ye try stop that damn thing happenin'"

the dwarf not waiting for an answer, set of muttering curses on mist, dryads and the whole place. Despite his bluster, the dwarf moved like a shadow.

---

OOC: Brankx rolled 19 using 1d20+4.  stealth roll.

Skuldja cracks her neck and then hops off the wagon. She stretches a bit and then cracks her fingers. She then grabs her greatsword and readies it. "Alright, let's go stop that summinin." She crouches and starts making her way to the druids, as quietly as she can.

03:33, Today: Skuldja Blackrazor rolled 6 using 1d20+2.  Stealth.

Ireena chooses to join Branx, and is able to keep stealth with him.

Especially when Skuldja is spotted by the druids at the top of the hill.

---

TREE: Branx, Ireena
HILLTOP: Skuldja, Davian, Dag

Who else is going to the hilltop? No roll necessary.
Who else is going to the tree? Stealth DC15.

Zrakrud looks to Lando "You should join them. It sounds like words may make a difference and you seem to have them." with that Zrakrud looked to join Skuldja and the others, but he was going to first prepare himself.

---

OOC: Mage Armour AC 13+DEX now, Note have Mask of the Wild so if there is some cover I can also take a hide action if necessary (when Skuldja is spotted).

14:53, Today: Zrakrud rolled 9 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 6.  Stealth.

14:53, Today: Zrakrud rolled 22 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 19.  Hide if Necessary/Available.

Spell Slots Remaining:

• 1st: 2
• 2nd: 1

"well, I'm not going to let Brankx do all the talking," he replied to Zrakrud, "good luck" and he sneeked off after Brankx.  Lando may have had words, but he didn't have grace as he scrambled along wide of the ceremony toward the tree.

19:30, Today: Lando rolled 6 using 1d20+5.  stealth.