# The Crown of Yester Hill

> From the Curse of Strahd game wiki (it covers the whole game, spoilers included): https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-crown-of-yester-hill.html. Unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy, not approved or endorsed by Wizards of the Coast.

> [!infobox]
> ![loc yester hill gulthias tree 1](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/img/shots/loc-yester-hill-gulthias-tree-1.webp)
> **Region:** [Yester Hill](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/regions/yester-hill.md) · level 7
> **Resting:** no
> **Light:** dim, outdoors
> **Getting here:** [Yester Hill](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/yester-hill.md)
> **Quests:** [The Druid Who Came Back](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/the-druid-who-came-back.md), [The Son Who Didn't Fly](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/the-son-who-didnt-fly.md)

## Overview

The top of Yester Hill inside a ring of standing stones: a black, twisted tree that drinks what it is given, a fire, and a great earthen effigy of the lord of the valley, lying on its back with a stone in its heart.

The crown of the hill is flat and bare inside its ring of stones. In the middle stands a tree with bark like a burnt hand and roots that go into the ground the way fingers go into a wound. Beside it lies a man made of earth and timber, forty feet long, cloaked, with a face you have seen before.

**Resting:** no Nobody sleeps in reach of those roots. Nobody who wants to wake up.

![loc yester hill gulthias tree overview](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/img/shots/loc-yester-hill-gulthias-tree-overview.webp)
*The whole place from above.*

## Getting here

### Ways in

- **From [Yester Hill](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/yester-hill.md):** Up to the crown of the hill
- **From [Yester Hill](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/yester-hill.md):** The head of the gully

### Ways out

| # | Exit | Leads to | Only when |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Down the hill path | [Yester Hill](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/yester-hill.md) |  |

## Map

![yester hill gulthias tree](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/img/maps/yester-hill-gulthias-tree.svg)

**Key:** gold, people; red, containers; purple, hidden finds; teal, skill checks; white, exits; orange, traps. The numbers match the lists on this page.

### Close up

![loc yester hill gulthias tree spot1](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/img/shots/loc-yester-hill-gulthias-tree-spot1.webp)
*Among the roots, the black tree, a staff grown into the heartwood*

## People

> [!note]- Who turns up at points in the story (3)
> - **[Mother Ruxandra](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/people/mother-ruxandra.md)**, Inside the ring (#2, #3): when not yester hill resolved; or when yester hill resolved and not yester druids fate; or when quest.the druid who came back and not ash effigy slain and yester druids fate is “spared”
> - **[Kostin](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/people/kostin.md)**, Inside the ring (#3): when quest.the druid who came back and not ash effigy slain and kostin doubts and not yester druids fate is “spared”; or when ash effigy slain and kostin doubts and not yester druids fate is “spared”
> - **[Zorica](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/people/zorica.md)**, Inside the ring (#3): when quest.the druid who came back and not ash effigy slain and not kostin doubts and not yester druids fate is “spared”

## What to find

| # | Where | What | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Among the roots | [Dagger](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/items/equipment.md#dagger), [Shortsword](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/items/equipment.md#shortsword), 41 gp | open it |
| 5 | the druids' offerings | [Herbalism Kit](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/items/equipment.md#herbalism-kit), [Potion of Healing](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/items/equipment.md#potion-of-healing) ×2, [Druidic Focus (Wooden Staff)](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/items/equipment.md#druidic-focus-wooden-staff), 25 gp | open it |
| 6 | a staff grown into the heartwood (hidden) | [Staff of Withering (Quarterstaff)](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/items/magic-items.md#staff-of-withering) | Search: Investigation DC 16 |

**Tarokka treasure spots.** If the reading hid one of the treasures here, it's in: Yester Hill Gulthias Tree (gulthias_roots)

The containers here also get random magic items and potions, rolled for a party of level 7 the first time you come ([Random Treasure](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/items/random-treasure.md)). Hidden finds need a Search (F) nearby; the party's best roll counts.

## Fights

- *The humming breaks into a shout. The effigy's chest splits like a log in frost, and out of it, unfolding,…*, in [The Crown of Yester Hill](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-crown-of-yester-hill.md): [Tree Blight](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/tree-blight.md), [Twig Blight](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/twig-blight.md), [Druid](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/druid.md), [Berserker](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/berserker.md), [Vine Blight](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/vine-blight.md). Scales with your level.
> [!example]- By party level (the first line your party fits is the fight you get)
> - **[The Crown of Yester Hill](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-crown-of-yester-hill.md)**, when yester druids fate is “fled”: Wintersplinter ([Tree Blight](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/tree-blight.md)), 6 × [Twig Blight](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/twig-blight.md) (3050 XP)
> - **[The Crown of Yester Hill](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-crown-of-yester-hill.md)**, when yester struck first: Wintersplinter ([Tree Blight](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/tree-blight.md)), Mother Ruxandra ([Druid](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/druid.md)), 2 × Druid of Yester Hill ([Druid](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/druid.md)), 4 × [Twig Blight](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/twig-blight.md) (4350 XP; surprise: enemies)
> - **[The Crown of Yester Hill](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-crown-of-yester-hill.md)**, when yester circle broken: Wintersplinter ([Tree Blight](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/tree-blight.md)), Mother Ruxandra ([Druid](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/druid.md)), 6 × [Twig Blight](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/twig-blight.md) (3500 XP)
> - **[The Crown of Yester Hill](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-crown-of-yester-hill.md)**, when kostin fled and not kostin doubts: Wintersplinter ([Tree Blight](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/tree-blight.md)), Mother Ruxandra ([Druid](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/druid.md)), Kostin ([Druid](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/druid.md)), 2 × Druid of Yester Hill ([Druid](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/druid.md)), 4 × [Twig Blight](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/twig-blight.md) (4800 XP)
> - **[The Crown of Yester Hill](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-crown-of-yester-hill.md)**, when level ≥ 7: Wintersplinter ([Tree Blight](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/tree-blight.md)), Mother Ruxandra ([Druid](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/druid.md)), 2 × Druid of Yester Hill ([Druid](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/druid.md)), Warden of the hill ([Berserker](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/berserker.md)), 2 × [Vine Blight](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/vine-blight.md), 4 × [Twig Blight](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/twig-blight.md) (5000 XP)
> - **[The Crown of Yester Hill](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-crown-of-yester-hill.md)**, when level ≥ 6: Wintersplinter ([Tree Blight](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/tree-blight.md)), Mother Ruxandra ([Druid](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/druid.md)), 6 × [Twig Blight](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/twig-blight.md) (3500 XP)
> - **[The Crown of Yester Hill](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-crown-of-yester-hill.md)**: Wintersplinter ([Tree Blight](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/tree-blight.md)), Mother Ruxandra ([Druid](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/druid.md)), Druid of Yester Hill ([Druid](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/druid.md)), 4 × [Twig Blight](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/twig-blight.md) (3900 XP)

- *The ash of the whole crown stands up round the thing in the turned earth, grey and smoking, twice a man's…*, in [The Crown of Yester Hill](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-crown-of-yester-hill.md): [The Ash Effigy](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/the-ash-effigy.md), [Druid](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/druid.md), [Twig Blight](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/twig-blight.md). Scales with your level. Part of [The Druid Who Came Back](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/the-druid-who-came-back.md).
> [!example]- By party level (the first line your party fits is the fight you get)
> - **[The Crown of Yester Hill](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-crown-of-yester-hill.md)**, when yester druids fate is “spared” and level ≥ 8: [The Ash Effigy](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/the-ash-effigy.md), Mother Ruxandra ([Druid](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/druid.md)), 4 × An Ember ([Twig Blight](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/twig-blight.md)) (4450 XP)
> - **[The Crown of Yester Hill](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-crown-of-yester-hill.md)**, when yester druids fate is “spared”: [The Ash Effigy](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/the-ash-effigy.md), Mother Ruxandra ([Druid](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/druid.md)), 3 × An Ember ([Twig Blight](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/twig-blight.md)) (4425 XP)
> - **[The Crown of Yester Hill](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-crown-of-yester-hill.md)**, when not kostin doubts and not zorica stood down and level ≥ 8: [The Ash Effigy](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/the-ash-effigy.md), Zorica ([Druid](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/druid.md)), 4 × An Ember ([Twig Blight](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/twig-blight.md)) (4450 XP)
> - **[The Crown of Yester Hill](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-crown-of-yester-hill.md)**, when not kostin doubts and not zorica stood down: [The Ash Effigy](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/the-ash-effigy.md), Zorica ([Druid](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/druid.md)), 3 × An Ember ([Twig Blight](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/twig-blight.md)) (4425 XP)
> - **[The Crown of Yester Hill](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-crown-of-yester-hill.md)**, when level ≥ 8: [The Ash Effigy](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/the-ash-effigy.md), 4 × An Ember ([Twig Blight](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/twig-blight.md)) (4000 XP)
> - **[The Crown of Yester Hill](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/locations/the-crown-of-yester-hill.md)**: [The Ash Effigy](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/the-ash-effigy.md), 3 × An Ember ([Twig Blight](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/bestiary/twig-blight.md)) (3975 XP)

## Quests and lore

- [The Druid Who Came Back](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/the-druid-who-came-back.md): Davian's pickers watch a lantern go round and round the crown of Yester Hill at night, where the Gulthias tree burned, like somebody…
- [The Son Who Didn't Fly](https://curseofstrahd.app/wiki/quests/the-son-who-didnt-fly.md): Davian Martikov has never forgiven his son Adrian for coming home alone from Yester Hill, where his youngest, Elvir, was taken.