Nursing their injuries, the group retreated deep into the woods to recover and regroup. They took great care to conceal themselves from the vigilant druids and their formidable guards, opting to spend the night hidden in the shadows. During this respite, they invoked restorative spells to mend their wounds before heading back south to confront the druids.
Upon reaching the hill, the group immediately noticed a significant change in the situation. Eerie chanting emanated from the lightning-scarred circle of stones crowning the hill’s peak. They proceeded cautiously, striving to avoid detection. Along the way, they dispatched a lone guard swiftly and, sensing the approach of more enemies, adapted their strategy to flush out the druids from the dense forest.
Kwik hurled fire bolts into the nearby trees, retreating upwind as he did so. Despite the ever-present mist dampening the woods, his fiery attacks caused several trees to erupt in flames, igniting a spreading wildfire. The rest of the party was initially bewildered by the arboreal carnage and tried to stop Kwik. Ultimately they understood that it was the only way — the druids were just too powerful. The party fled eastward into the hills, seeking refuge from the encroaching fire, the billowing smoke, and the druids and warriors who were likely closing in on them.
Meanwhile, atop Yester Hill, the imposing wooden statue groaned and splintered as the twisted, spongy roots of the cursed tree at the hill’s summit tore it apart. These sinister roots coiled around the remnants of the statue before uprooting themselves from the moist soil, lumbering down the hillside towards the spreading conflagration as the druids exulted in their victory.
The terrain sloped upward into the eastern hills, offering Kwik, Damon, Tiana, and Ulysses a view of the expanding inferno as it stretched northwest into the misty landscape. Eventually, they stumbled upon a narrow road running north to south, winding its way through the foothills and above increasingly profound valleys. Damon regaled them with the legend of Sangzor, or Bloodhorn, an enormous, malevolent goat that supposedly roamed these high passes. Though the group encountered no such goat, they fell prey to a bat swarm during the night. The bats assailed them, clawing at their faces until Kwik used his magic to lull them to sleep. As the swarm descended to the dark earth, everyone stomped on them to ensure they wouldn’t wake again. They assumed the swarm was sent by Strahd, so the following morning, they resumed their journey along the mountain road, ascending deeper into the rugged peaks. That afternoon, Sangzor, remarkably nimble and silent despite its size, caught them off guard. The colossal beast attempted to knock Damon off the road and into the precipitously steep ravine below. However, the legend of Bloodhorn proved less imposing than reality, and the mighty Sangzor was swiftly dispatched. The party skinned him and took his horns. Kwik kept one of the horns and Ulysses took the skin. Below is a painting of the proud, majestic, and ultimately easily slain beast.
The narrow ledge of rock supporting the mountain road began to dwindle. On their left, sheer icy cliffs soared toward ominous, rolling clouds, while on their right, the land plunged into an abyss of fog. Ahead, through wind and snow, they spotted a towering wall of obsidian stone adorned with spikes and statues of horned vultures with demonic visages. Positioned in the wall’s center was a sealed iron portcullis, behind which danced a curtain of eerie green flames. Beyond the somber wall, gripping the mountain’s edge, rose a white stone tower crowned with golden statues of formidable warriors. Approaching cautiously, they heard the grating of metal on metal as the iron portcullis reluctantly lifted, beckoning them into the emerald blaze. Kwik was about to touch the flames when Damon pulled him back and instead cast his bonded javelin through the flames, commanding it to return to his hand. It reappeared instantly, charred and ruined, confirming the reality of the flames.
Kwik cast Spider Climb and Invisibility, deftly scaling the wall to the left of the gate. He was surprised to see the horned demonic vultures spring to life, their stony countenances cracking and crumbling as they scoured the area for the intruder who had summoned them. One of the creatures lunged at him, and Kwik, after a final glimpse of what lay beyond the gate -— a colossal bridge spanning a great chasm—darted along the rocky precipice away from the wall. He evaded the demons with ease, even as the two creatures cast quizzical glances at the three diminutive figures at the foot of the gate.
Damon and Ulysses began firing at the creatures, but their arrows bounced harmlessly off the demons’ hides. The vultures spread their wings and swooped down upon the group, prompting them to scatter and flee. The angered demons for a time pursued the two, while Tiana wisely counseled Damon & Ulysses to stop their attack. Kwik was far away at this point. Disinterested in pursuing what appeared to be villagers, the demons returned to their posts. The party eventually caught up with Kwik.
Kwik’s attention was drawn to a massive bird high in the mountains to the east. Its sheer size and distant appearance fascinated him, although it didn’t quite have the serpentine qualities of a dragon. When the others inquired if it could be a dragon, Kwik, after a moment’s reflection, deemed it more avian than reptilian. Given that it lay beyond the demon gate, they collectively shrugged off their curiosity.
Faced with the prospect of having to return the way they came and possibly encounter pursuing druids, Kwik hatched a daring plan. He proposed that the group leap from the mountainside and descend gracefully to the forest below, which was barely discernible through the shroud of fog. He assured them that his Feather Fall spell would ensure a swift and secure descent. Despite their reservations, everyone took the leap, experiencing an exhilarating yet entirely safe descent through the clouds to the forest and the serene lakeshore below.
Once they had descended, they decided it wisest to approach Yester Hill from a fresh direction, first starting a new set of fires that they would follow. The lake would prevent any fire from coming back at them. With some luck, they might catch the druids off guard and do further damage. They marched through the smoking forest, bandanas over their mouth and nose. After a long trek that was at least blissfully free of tangled undergrowth, they reached the bank of a small river at the base of Yester Hill.
It is now the 18th of the 4th moon, 735.
lostdelights 