The grove itself was a series of interconnected caves in a rockside that gently sloped downwards to a druidic stone circle and opened to a small piece of shore on the other side. Fine sand covered the ground and swallowed the sound of their footsteps. Despite that, it was noisy once they stepped inside. Tieflings where following their day-to-day business, children running around screaming and hollering. The walls of the cave were lined with makeshift tents and huts. They made their way down towards the stone circle, but when they reached the main cave, the dark-skinned man came over to them. Before they even had a chance to talk to one another, Tsisk could feel the tadpole connect her to him. The brief contact of minds told her that he was a man of great ethics and morale, a bit righteous even. For the first time she asked herself what the others felt when the exchange took place. It could not be the murderous urges or they would react differently. She remarked: „You have a tadpole, too. Were you on the ship?" „As it were, yes. I was. But let me introduce myself: My name is Wyll Ravenguard, you might also know me as the Blade of the Frontiers. Your help at the gate was highly appreciated. It could have gone very differently without you." Gale became very attentive now. „You mean Ravenguard, as in Duke Ulder Ravenguard, Captain of the Flaming Fists, City Guards of Baldurs Gate?" And with a practised bow, Wyll replied „The very same, though the Duke would be my father. What brings you to this refuge?" „We were trying to find a healer that could rid us of the tadpoles in our heads. I read about skilled priests and druids that were able of such feats. Would you happen to know if one of that ability resides here in the grove?" Gale inquired. „No. I also just arrived a day before you. But all the druids gathered at the circle of stones and refuse contact with any outsiders. Maybe you can sway them to hear you out." When the group headed in the druids direction, Wyll followed them, curious to see how events would turn out. A guard of two druids and a bear refused them entry into the druids sanctum. „On Kaghas orders, no one can come in until the ritual is finished" They said. Behind them, screams of rage and surprise erupted. „The Idol!" „Catch the thief!" A small child ran up to them, dodged the guards and tried to sprint past them. Tsisk grabbed the little Tiefling-girl by the shoulders and held her in place until the druids from inside the sanctum rushed to them. The girl desperately clutched a figurine and tried to hide it as best she could. Which was in vain, because it was bigger than her chest and her clothes so riddled with holes, that not even her bare hands would have been out of sight completely. „You! Hand over the child and our Idol!" An irate woman demanded rude and disrespectful. „She will die for her transgressions today." Shadowheart gasped. „Die. For what? She did not harm you in any way." „She foiled our ritual to bring back peace to this grove. We will need days to get it back where we were." „Kagha! Kill a child? Here? We are to balance the forces of nature and civilisation, not to force nature on others." An older druid scolded her and got a look of white hot rage from her. „We will keep the grove safe and you will obey me as the archdruid now! Halsin was a fool to follow those meddlers to the goblin camp. You should accept that he won't come back." Wyll in the meantime had plucked the idol from the childs hands and pushed her back into the group, towards the cave with the other Tieflings. As soon as she was set free, the little girl bolted and vanished into the camp. He handed back the idol, which was taken with scorn by Kagha and put back on its pedastal in the middle of the circle. „If you were not the ones to save us from the Goblins today, I would cast you out immediately. Just tell me why you are here, so you can leave sooner." She told the group of adventurers. With a sharp voice and louder she ordered the other druids. „Go back to your meditations. We need to finish this already." Tsisk noticed, that many of them looked weary of her and did not like taking orders from her. „We need a healer for an affliction that bothers us." The dragonborn told her. Kagha eyed them up and down „Go see Nettie, she was Halsins apprentice and knows a bit about healing. Do not dawdle and leave as soon as you are done. When the ritual finishes, this grove will be closed off to the outside world, free from intruders - and little thieves." The last part was spat out with disgust. She turned on her heels and went back to attend the ritual. But the older druid had shuffled over and looked at Tsisk directly. „Is that you, Tsisk? How did you fare after you left us?" Tsisk was taken by surprise. „How do you know me?" „You came here twenty-odd years before, on your way to Baldurs Gate, do you not remember?" „No, I do not. I have lost my memories and only recall the last days of my existence. Can you tell me more about me?" She inquired, curious now. „Not much. You did not stay for long. Though dragonborn are rare sights at the sword-coast and dragonborn druids even more so. You had trouble with your connection to nature. I remember that much." Tsisk sighed. „It seems that has not changed. I can feel the presence of nature, but it won't disclose its secrets to me." The druid smiled and bade them to come in „Maybe we can help you with it. And as a fellow druid, you are welcome here any time, no matter what that snake Kagha might say about it." They followed him deeper into the sanctum. It was built into the side of the mountain, carefully carved out of the stone. Close to the entrance roots and vines adorned the walls, forming organic patterns and making for a cozy, inviting atmosphere. He lead them in deeper, were everything became stone and no plants reached for light or water anymore. In these parts, statues of animals guarded the rooms and paths, that formed a small labyrinth of winding corridors until they finally stopped in one room. A dwarven druid was busy examining a Drow on her table. Glasses, bottles and clay pots filled with ingredients lined the walls, pouches and dried herbs hung under the ceiling and a wild mix of books about anatomy and magical afflictions was thrown open on a table and the floor. The older druid cleared his throat to get the attention of the dwarven lady. „Not now, I need to know more about this. Come back later." She said while continuing her studies. „Nettie, I have brought guests and they need your help rather urgently, as I gathered." Their guide replied. With a sigh, Nettie turned with tweezers in hand and looked at them, tired. „You don't look sick. Tell me why it is urgent that I see you. I don't have time." Tsisk could now see the face of the Drow. One eye was taken out and the socket used to access the brain. A tadpole sat in a jar right next to him, preserved in a liquid and unmoving.