"Yes. A young green by the name of Venomfang. I come here from time to time to clear the ruins."

Reidoth gives a heavy sigh, "This however, it a little beyond my capabilities."

 "Why was this place abandoned?"

 "Now that is a question."

Reidoth steps over to the fire and makes tea while he explains; 

"Once, this was a prosperous community on the outskirts of the forest, wealthy from the work of its woodcutters and trappers. Then thirty years ago, the eruption of Mount Hotenow to the north devastated Thundertree. In the wake of the natural disaster, a plague of strange zombies swept over the area, killing or driving off those who survived the eruption.

Though most of the zombies have long since crumbled to dust, strange magic permeating the area has mutated the local vegetation into new and dangerous forms. Few people dare to venture into this ruined village now, and those who do so seldom stay long. It falls to people such as myself to keep the magic here in check and warn off those who might stray into the ruins. 

Now tell me what brings you here and how are my dear friends Mirna and Thel?"

 Kara gives the sad news about Thel.

The group explain their plight as well as their hope that Reidoth might be able to aid them with information. As they talk the old man hands out tea and small cakes that he retrieves from a tin above the fire. 

 Reidoth wipes a tear from his eye as he mourns the passing of Thel.

"Well the good news is I can take you to Cragmaw Castle with ease." he raises a hand to forestall their excitement, "The bad news is I can not leave this place until it has been quelled of its danger, and that includes young Venomfang."

 "That's crazy! we can not kill a dragon!"

 "Indeed no. That would be a mighty task."

"I had planned to encourage it to leave in some way. That was until the cultists turned up to complicate matters."

 "Cultists? I do not like the sound of that."

 "Not should you."

The druid chuckles, "The masked fools would serve the dragon. So far it has eaten four of them for their hubris. Still, should it begin the like the idea of a following then it may never leave."

 The group exchange pained glances.

"What the hell, we need your help and you sure as hell need our. Where do we start?"

 "Melora bless you all."

"Stay here with me this night and on the morrow we will clear the village as quickly as we are able while the dragon hunts. We will then plan our attack up the foul beast and rid this place of its presence."

The party accept the invitation to stay the night and spend the evening planning. 

 Melandra ritual casts Alarm around the building.

She then spends the evening copying Misty Step into her spell book.

The party take a long rest.

Blighted Farmhouse

The next morning the party rise early and begin the days work. They hear the dragon rousing and flying overhead as they get ready.

First they head for the closest house just south of where they slept. This ruin looks as if it might once have been a farmhouse. It is now half swallowed by a dense thicket, with trees growing up through its ruined foundations. The lane continues south a short distance past the ruin before ending in an overgrown field.

 Melandra uses her staff to cast Mage Armour.

She sends cat into the building. Stealth 21 "It appears to be empty."

Blighted Cottages

These ruined, side-by-side cottages look as though they might have been the homes of prosperous shopkeepers or well-off farmers in their time. All that remains are collapsed walls and piles of debris. Several young trees have grown up in the midst of the ruins.

 "Go on Cat, see what you can find."

"Small twig creatures. Six of them."

 "Twig Blights, we should move fast and surprise them!"

Following the Druids advice the party charge in.

 Initiative :

Griell
Kara
Melandra
Blink
Reidoth 
Twig Blights
Vishka

 Griell leads the charge, swinging her Glaive into the shrubs.

Attack: 7 Damage: 8

 "Where are they?"

Attack: 15 Damage: 8

"Got one!"

 Melandra sends in a fire bolt.

Attack: 12 Damage: 4

"And another!"

Attack: 18 Damage: 8 Blink lets an arrow fly.

A miss.