Session 17 : Heist of Yesterhill
The origin and many facts of the event are no longer known. But this much we do know for certain: Hoskgak the half-orc did exist and the heist probably happened around 400 years after Barovia was taken by Strahd. Although many of his companions died that day and Hoskgak himself was said to have suffered grave injuries, they were able to recover one of the legendary gem of Rozana right under the nose of Strahd.
***
The rain is hard and lightning strikes sporadically at the top of Yesterhill. Ahead of them is a large circular field and on one end is a giant 50 foot high statue made out of living wood. Inside the statue is a glowing green gem, the very item they are tasked to recover for the Martikovs. A woman is tied halfway up the statue, a daughter, and mother, of the Martikov clan. A stone wall 10 foot tall surrounds the field, with a 30 foot opening facing them and another directly opposite.
Destiny scouts inside and spots at least 7 or 8 druids.
“Too many. We wounded. We will die.” Hoskgak says matter-of-factly. “Let’s go, Barovia is full of problems, someone else's problem, not ours.”
“Ok, you are right that we can’t fight them head on. But since we are here, we should at least try something. May be Destiny or I can sneak in, scale the statue, steal the gem and free the woman.” suggests Serenity.
Destiny looks at the wall and then the statue. “I’ll go. I think I can climb that thing in less than 30 seconds and with some magic can probably free that woman. But I’ll need you guys to create some serious distraction so they’re not all looking at me while I am doing all that.”
Hoskgak shakes his head and strolls back down the hill.
“Hey, Hoskgak, don’t leave now! We can do this!” Destiny whisper-shouts as loudly as she dares. But Hoskgak walks on, ignoring her.
While Destiny, Ireena and Serenity debate how they can do this without Hoskgak, the half-orc returns. His right hand holds a Greatsword dripping with blood, his left hand a severed head. It's the head of a barbarian they killed earlier.
"Are you planning to do what I think? Oh Hoskgak, you are certainly not one for subtlety!" giggles Destiny.
She scales up the wall behind the statue as Hoskgak marches towards the entrance of the stone wall. She sees now that the statue actually has roots growing into the ground. It's almost like many small trunks growing upwards and shaped into the form of a giant. She wonders if this thing is going to turn alive when she tries to climb it.
Too late to wonder now!
Pretty much all the Druids, even the ones preparing for the ritual, look towards Hoskgak as he arrives at the stone wall. Seemingly confused, even the ones assigned to guard the circle do nothing but gesture towards him and speak to each other. Without warning, Hoskgak gives an enormous roar as he lobs the severed head into the middle of circle.
In that moment of confusion, Destiny jumps off the wall and into the circle. She runs to the back of the statue, hugging it closely to avoid detection. There are 5 or 6 druids standing just 20 feet away on the other side of the statue. Fingers crossed, no one saw her.
So far so good... next, climb the statue! Come on Hoskgak, give me more distraction!
Destiny starts to hear several druids shout between themselves, the ground trembles slightly and screams came from the direction where Hoskgak was.
Oh dear, the druids are using magic. Hoskgak won't last long. I have to be quick!
Destiny scales up the statue, but the rain isn't making it easy and she nearly loses her foothold. But by some miracle she makes it half way up the statue without anyone seeming to notice. She can now see green gem inside. Directly opposite her is the woman tied on the statue.
Damn it, the gem is half way inside this thing and I'll have to hack my way through these branches. This will take time, it's the gem or the woman... the many tough choices of Barovia...
Destiny shifts her weight and balances herself so she can free one of her hand to use a dagger to cut the branches blocking the gem. She does this as quickly as she can without making too much noise. Another scream, but this time it's Serenity. Shortly later she hears Ireena shouting something.
This is too slow! But if I use my magic to blast my way through, everyone will be on me at once. I just hope the guys can buy me enough time to get to this gem.
Destiny keeps cutting for what feels like an eternity, thought in reality it must have been ten seconds or so. She has barely made a dent. Suddenly the air thickens and dark clouds forms over the entrance of the Circle. Destiny knows this is not a good sign. Someone powerful is casting magic on her companions. Then a deafening sound came from those close, it is so loud and shocking that she nearly loses her grip. Her ears are ringing, but she can hear more screams in the distance. Was it Serenity or Ireena? She is not sure.
Screw it, all or nothing!
Destiny sheathes the dagger and places the palm of her free hand where she has been slashing. Channeling as much magic as she can handle through her hand, two white blasts shoot out of her palm.
As the smoke clears, Destiny can see the green gem right there, held up now by a few remaining branches. It's incredible that no one has noticed the sound of her blast or see the smoke coming from the back of the statue. Perhaps they thought it was part of the lighting spell and the rain masked the smoke. She has no time to check. She reaches in to the hole.
Got it! Time to go!
A movement catches her eye as she puts the gem into her backpack. It's the woman tied to the statue. She stirs. Destiny assesses the situation. In order to save the woman, she'll have to climb to the front of the statue where she will be spotted immediately. One slip up and she'll be a sitting duck.
Oh Watch, you are not going to like what I'm about to do! [Ed: Watch likes it very much! Please carry on. If you die, I can stay in hell where I belong!]
Destiny creeps as far round the statue as possible without being seen, bending her knees a little so that she can spring forward and round. Then as the next lightning strikes, she swings round to the front and right next to the woman.
The woman is surprised to see her, but so are the six druids standing in a semi-circle around the statue. One of them shouts at someone in a black robe, while another starts chanting something. Destiny grabs the woman's arm, "Listen, I'm here to save you. Don't be alarmed, but in a minute you'll turn into a gas cloud. Fly low and away from here. You understand?"
The woman looks confused at first, but then nods.
"Ok, remember, fly LOW or you will die."
More druids are now chanting but Destiny doesn't spare them a glance. Instead she casts her own magic and touched the woman on the tree. Instantly she turns into a puff of cloud. Without looking back Destiny swings herself back around the statue and from there leaps straight to the stone wall. It's a big jump, but she just about makes it.
She gives a yelp of triumph as she runs as quickly as possible from the pursuing druids.
See Watch, we did it! Can you imagine what mother would say when she hears what we did here? Oh my, they are going to write songs about us and sing it to all the Tabaxi children!
***
"... and so it was, Hoskgak the Brave, bloodied and alone, stared into the eyes of the 300 demonic beasts as if to dare them to all come at once. Raising his sword, he charged at them without regard for his own safety, thinking only in giving his companions the time they need..."
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