"Wait... what do we call you?" Ruby asked.

"Withers." And the old mummy left.

"Well... not everyday you see a friendly undead... though he claimed to not be undead... perhaps a divine champion." Gale speculated.

"Can't say I've ever heard of a champion of Jergal... bit given how secure this sarcophagus was, that was for a reason." Wyll said.

Inside Withers sarcophagus was a large amount of gold, a third soul coin and a few health potions. Stashing everything away the group made their way out of the temple trudging back up the hill towards the grove.

It was midday by the time they arrived only to have Zevlore run up to them as they arrived. "Thank the gods you're here. The druids have gone mad! Kagha is demanding we leave the grove while holding a girl for trial!" The clear stress of the situation marking a bulging vein in his forehead.

Chapter 5 Kagha's Fury

Ruby stopped her tracks. "She's doing what!?" Wyll demanded. "If your kicked out you'll die to the goblins. "Why would a druid hold a child for trial?"

"As soon as I told her that Halsin went missing she had me dragged out of their sacred grove and whipped the other druids up in a frenzy, blaming us and now their chanting some ritual. I could at least still communicate with the druid Rath but while you were gone a child named Arabella snuck into her grove and stole their Idol of Silvanas." Zevlor explained.

"Her parents and other Teiflings are threatening to storm the grove, but they aren't soldiers. And a teifling druid is trying to keep the peace, as I understand she isn't from this circle so Kagha demanded she leave with us."

"That's despicable... how could she be incharge of the druids if she seemingly tries to drive everyone in need away?" Ruby asked.

"She's as venomous as that snake of her's. Please, try to talk some sense into her, if we don't the goblins will kill us and the druids. My scouts have confirmed the hoard's location so perhaps you could sabotage them or lay traps to thin their numbers. We also managed to capture a Goblin, if you want interrogate her in the groves prison." Zevlore told them.

"Great we get to play diplomat, need I remind you we are a short time clock as it is?" Astarion whispered.

"That clock will get smashed if we don't find a way to resolve the conflict in the grove." Gale whispered harshly to the elf.

Ruby and the others nodded in agreement. Heading up into the cave they rushed by Aaron and a small makeshift stable of cattle. Down a hill hillowing stone stair where a few Teifling children had set up a trading stall.

"Meggreshem! Let me through or I'll tear your damn throat out!" A woman shouted Rounding the corner a small mob of Teiflings had formed at the gateway. At the head of the mob were two teiflings, a man holding onto his wife as she hurld insults in a language Ruby didn't know. Within the grove it's self were three druids. A gnome as Gale had explained to her with a pointy beard. A human and wood elf holding a staff. "I said get back, you will wait for Kagha's judgment." She shouted.

Between the two groups was a teifling girl Rubies age, her alabaster white rams horns horns were decorated with gold and bone jewelry with green ribbons, her pale skin had a green tinge and woody brown blush. Unlike other Teifling deep set eyes, black with glowing iris's, her's was a soft golden hue. "Please, Jeorna you have to see the madness of it? Halsin would never approve of this..."

"Shut it foul blood, the same taint flows through your veins as their's. You don't belong to this circle Death Bringer." Jeorna the wood elf spat at the teifling druid.

"Let my daughter go right now!" The mother shouted.

The male druid roared as he fell to all fours magic covering his body before her transformed in the shape of a bear. The beast surged forward as the teifling stumbled back but the Teifling druid drew a scimitar placing herself between the transformed druid and the parents.

"You forget the teachings of the oak father!" She shouted as the Teiflings fell back.

"You never knew them in the first place Rot." Jeorna shouted back.

Slowly the teifling druid drew back. At the mid way point of the stairs the parents paced, tears in the mother's eyes. "What happened?" Ruby asked.

"They took my baby because of that stupid ritual! I wished that stupid idol was gone, but I didn't know Arabella was listening... She tried to steal the idol, and now their doing gods know what to her! What does Kagha know about justice when she wants to condemn innocent lives!" The mother shouted in fury.

Wyll approached them. "Ma'am, I think we maybe able to help." He said with a soft smile.

The teifling Druid turned to the group. "By the oak Father's roots you're The Blade of Frontiers. My name is Thalia."

"Why did they call you death bringer?" Ruby asked.

Thalia's face turned down ward, up close Ruby should see that Thalia has green freckles spotted over her nose and cheeks. It was as if Thalia was in some way a plant herself.

"It's a matter of druidic faith these are land and moon druids. They focus of the life of nature and fight to protect it from rot, yet they forget rot nourishes the soil so new growth may come. Just a death comes from life. Life comes from death." Thalia explained. "I came to this circle out of desperation. A number of Spore Druid enclaves have been sealed off by the Rite of Thornes, something is amiss within the circles. And now Kagha seeks to use this same ritual to seal this grove."

"Druids aren't known to seal them selves off from the world... I think something more is going on here." Gale muttered.

"Please help me. We need to save that girl and the grove." Thalia pleaded.

"Of course we will. I won't let that happen here." Ruby took Thalia's hands in her's.

"Oh, now we're helping every sob story we encounter. Why Ruby you must understand that we aren't all heroes like you, we have priorities." Astarion mocked the huntress.

"Astarion enough, we need the druids on our side if were to figure out our situation. Mocking and belittling those we encounter won't help." Wyll scolded him annoyed.

"Gentlemen please focus on the task at hand." Gale put himself between the elf and folk hero.

"It's like hearding carts..." Shadowheart sighed.

Walking down the steps Jerona and her fellow druids still guarded the way. "Halt, outsiders aren't allowed down here." She snapped sharply. "Kagha's orders"

"Kagha has only had full control of the grove for a few hours and you accept that she spits on all of the oak father's teachings? Aiding the weak, giving shelter to those that need it?" Thalia retorted. "Kagha isn't First Druid Halsin is and until you have his body that hasn't changed!"

"Enough devil kin, the like of you couldn't understand his teachings, Rot walker." Jeorna stepped forward.

"Call me a devil again and you'll become..." Thalia snarled as Shadowheart pulled her back.

"We fought off the Goblin attack, we need to speak with Kagha." Wyll put himself at the head of the group.

"I said get back." Jerona ordered.

"A moment Jerona." The gnome Druid whispered to her.

"What? Really... I see." Jerona stood a little straighter. "Apparently Kagha wants to speak with you." The Druids parted letting the group enter. Jeorna made a step to block Thalia but stopped short from the scarred glare from Wyll.

Inside the grove green waves of magic flowed off the statue of Silvanus. Ancient stone work lining the grove circle boars and bears lazily waddling along side druids. Surrounding the idol were chanting druids. To one side of the grove was a... puffy blue suited man interviewing a bear. To the far side of the grove was a stone door way.

Heading into the cave it was dank and wet yet also cool in it's shade. Descending the stairs grand murals of a war fought long ago depecting a battle against monsters and black armored warriors at a tower keep.

"Those look like dark justiciars..." Shadowheart spoke under her breath.

"What was that Shadowheart?" Ruby asked curious about the older woman.

"Nothing." She said.

Heading down to the main chamber the pleas of a young girl echoed off the walls. "Please I'm sorry!" Ruby say the young girl near a stone slap as a horned snake hovered a little too close to her neck ready to strike.

"Kahga this is madness, she just a..." A human druid argued with a elven woman, his deep earthy skin slip with the stress of the predicament.

"She's what Rath? A thief? A poison? A devil? No, I will imprison the Devil." Kahga sneered.

Rath clenched his fists as Wyll and Ruby approached. "Kahga enough of this, She's a child, her parents a furious with the druids, you are no judge."

"Ah the Blade of Frontiers... you brought that one... I thought i told you to leave. No matter." Kahga barely acknowledged the group as individuals. Three black rats clung close to her feet.

"Seeds nobely sown bear the sweetest fruit Kagha." Thalia growled. "You call me rot walker yet the only rot I see is you. Only monsters behave like you."

"I told Zevlor I wanted the teiflings gone. And you with them, surely you and your friends can help them on their path." Kahga said disregarding the girl.

"Kahga, if the girl isn't returned to her family then the Refugees will take up arms. Is it not disrupting the true nature of things to keep her from her family?" Gale asked.

"You know of the tree father's teachings Wizard, then you also know we're to cut out the rot. Pluck the leaf, trim the branch ot cun the limb to save the whole tree." Kahga retorted.

"New life is to be cultivated and cared for, no matter it's form. Arabella did something wrong but she knows it was wrong, she has learned." Thalia stepped forward.

"The tree father's lesson spoked with the forked tongue of a devil. But surprisingly you speak trust. Tsifvif Teela to me." Teela the snake slithered away from Arabella. "Go child, and remember your lesson." Arabella ran out of the cave.

"Thank you Kahga, Halsin would..." Rath Started.

"Halsin isn't here, and you would refrain from mentioning his name in my presence." Kagha demanded before walking off.

Once Kagha had left, two other druids following along with her rats Rath approached the group. "I'm terribly sorry, we've let a snake replace our leader, turning away those in need, threatening children."

"Venom drips from her every word." Gale said as the group gathered round. "You sure she isn't a drow?"

"Well that's harsh Gale." Astarion noted, though the wizard ignored him.

"Thank you for speaking up for the girl. We spoken." Rath said. "I have to ask, please try to find Halsin, the Rite of thorns takes ten days to complete." Rath explained. "I'll try to speak with the others. I know there are druids who disagree with Kagha. Thalia, please aid them. Be their guide in the forest."

"Of course Rath." Thalia said.

"We were hoping to speak with Halsin in regards of healing?" Wyll asked.

"Your wounded? Speak with Halsin's apprentice, Nettie over in the other chamber. I must see to Silver." Rath said as a massive wolf emerged from the shadows. Shadowheart stumbled back and hid behind Gale hiding from the giant creature. " I hate wolves." She muttered.

The party headed towards the chamber Rath had indicated. Inside a tattooed Dwarven woman was tending to a injured blue Jay. "Easy there..." She said as her hands glowed a soft blue. As Ruby approached her. "A moment please..."

Ruby held out her hand hovering it slightly over the bird. "Unbound by death I protect thee..." Her hand glowed red as she used her aura to help heal the bird.

"Fascinating..." Gale said watching the young huntress.

"I'm impressed, ain't never seen a healing spell like that." Nettie turned to them. "What can I do for you lot... Thalia I thought Kagha barred you from the Grove?" The druid woman asked.

"It's complicated." Thalia responded.

"We encountered these... mindflayers and they..." Ruby started

"Your infected too?" Nettie cut her off.

"Too?" Ruby

"Follow me." Nettie gestured for them to follow her. On the far wall of the chamber was a symbol of elk in a wreath of ivy. Nettie touched it and the stones moved revealing a secret room with a large wolf them, four pedestals, book selves with stone slates, a stone desk covered in glass bottles and a stone table where a dead man lay, his ash gret skin skin devoid of life as the smell of blood hung in the air.

Ruby Rose stats, class and Racial abilities

Class Fighter lv 3

Subclass Champion

Great weapon fighting style (rerolls one's and twos on damage)

Hp: 28 (3 d12 plus 0)

Strength: 18 (base 17)

Dexterity: 16 (base 15)

Constitution:10

Wisdom: 8

Intelligence:12

Charisma: 10

Race Human Variant (Remnant)

Feats:

Ability score improvement: plus 1 str plus 1 Dex

Base Speed: 40 ft

Aura: 10 temp hit points per level (30 Thp)

Semblance: Petal Dash; Dash action is now a bonus action

Improved Critical: reduces critical requirements by 1 (19-20)

Action Surge: Gain an extra action

Gear:

Crescent Rose: 2 to damage and rolls to hit, 2 d 12 slashing plus strength. 2 d 8 Piercing plus Dex when firing.

All but Ruby Rose have disadvantage with this weapon.

Elemental bullets: 2d4 elemental damage added to ranged attacks.

Two handed, heavy, extra reach

cleave lacerate trip enemies, peircing shot

1 Half plate armor: Ac 18 (16 plus 2 dex) Medium armor. Reduces piercing damage by 1.