Char gasped awake as she recalled the strange day she had. An alien abduction and a trip through the Hells sounded straight out of a book. The sunlight blinded her as she tried to see where she was. Slowly, she sat up, ignoring the pounding in her head. The tadpole squirmed, almost alerting her that it was still in there. Grimacing, she looked around and only saw a river surrounded by mountains, and none of it seemed familiar.
Once her eyesight adjusted to the midday sun, she stood and brushed the sand off her clothes. She frowned, realizing that she had nothing more than a few gold coins, a vial of healing, and her old wedding ring. She hadn't expected to be dropped into the wilderness when she went to the Stormshore Tabernacle.
The drow stretched as best she could, taking stock of her injuries. Her head ached, but it was manageable. Other than a few bumps and bruises, she was in perfect health. A miracle, given the circumstances. She stared further down at the beach and saw a familiar body lying in the sun.
Char ran up to Shadowheart, who was motionless and gave no indication that she was alive. The drow pushed down her panic as she checked her breathing. The half elf was alive, thank the gods. Gently, Char shook her shoulders, hoping that she hadn't broken anything important in the fall. Soon, Shadowheart woke and sat up, quickly getting to her feet. Char took a step back, giving the half elf some room to breathe.
"Where are we?" Shadowheart whispered as Char shrugged.
"No idea. I was hoping that you knew."
"I don't recognize anything, but we should get moving. We need to find a healer, and then maybe we can find out where we are."
"I agree, the sooner we can get this worms out, the happier I'll be," Char agreed, taking a deep breath. "I say we should stick together. Animals are less likely to attack if we're in a group."
"Have you spent a lot of time in the wilderness?" Shadowheart asked with a slight laugh.
"Only the first century and half of my life," Char chuckled with a wink. The drow started to walk away to find a way off the beach when Shadowheart touched her arm.
"Before we go, I just wanted to thank you. You didn't have to rescue me from my pod, but you saved me even when time was of the essence. I'll remember that," Shadowheart smiled.
"You're welcome," Char replied kindly before they started their trek.
Unfortunately, they had to climb through the wreckage to get out of the area. Most of the fire had subsided as the ship groaned. They quickly navigated through it just in case it wasn't as stable as it looked. Once on the other side, Shadowheart found a few crates the rummage through near the broken dock. Char glanced around, checking the plant life to see if she could recognize anything edible or useful.
As the half elf worked on picking locks, Char wandered farther away. She made sure that she could at least still see Shadowheart, not wanting to get split up so early in their journey. As she examined a patch of mugwort, the drow heard shouting further up the path. She turned her attention to the noise to see a man waving his arm and pointing at something out of sight. Char glanced back at Shadowheart, who had successfully picked the lock, before she went to the man.
"Hurry, I have one of those monsters cornered in the bushes," he stage-whispered. Char tried to follow his gaze. "It's further in the bushes. Do you think you can kill it?"
"I can certainly try," Char nodded before she raised her arm, ready to cast a spell.
As the drow inched closer to the bush, she could hear the rustling. When the creature ran from the bush, she saw that it was a common boar and not a brain monster. She breathed a sigh of relief as the boar ran away from them and away from Shadowheart. However, her relief was short lived as she felt a blade at her throat and fell backwards. The elven man caged her in, digging the knife further into her skin without breaking it.
"Hush now," he whispered as Char's hands went to the handle of the knife. She tried to relieve the pressure, but he was stronger than he looked. She stared at him, wondering what he wanted. She did her best to relax. "You were on the ship, weren't you? I saw you scuttling about."
"Yes, I was," Char hissed, hoping not to encourage him to do something rash.
"Good, now you are going to tell me exactly what you and those monsters did to me!" the man nearly shouted before that familiar pain rush through the both of you.
Char gritted her teeth as she saw flashes of dark alleys and bustling taverns, some of which she recognized. He was from Baldur's Gate. He must have been taken in the same batch as you had when the ship passed over. The man cried out at the pain, bringing Char back to reality.
"What the fuck?" he cursed, shaking his head. He turned back to Char, meeting her eyes. Slowly, he released her before they both stood up. "They took you. I saw it. I saw the moment they grabbed you."
"Fun memory, isn't it?" she sneered as she rubbed her neck. At the mention, she could see her daughter's panicked face before Char vanished into thin air. Char could tell that was going to haunt her in her nightmares for years to come. "Glad to see that you're not a thrall."
"A thrall? Do you know what's going on?"
"All I know is that we have worms in our brains and that we crash landed a giant ship."
"I suppose that explains some things. And to think I was ready to decorate the ground in your blood. My apologies."
"Given the circumstances, I'll forgive you, but if you pull that dagger on me again, I will incinerate you," Char replied with a sickly-sweet smile. The elf man laughed and smiled back at her, exposing two elongated fangs. She hummed before bowing slightly. "I'm Chardalyn, by the way."
"Astarion," he answered, giving a slight bow as well.
"Pleasure. So, what's your plan for our little stowaways? You're welcome to join Shadowheart and me," Char offered, pointing down the hill to where Shadowheart was starting to walk towards them. "Better odds, I'll say. Who knows what's out here in this wilderness?"
"An excellent point. I was expecting to do this alone, but maybe traveling with more people would be safer. Alright, then, I'll join you," he agreed. Shadowheart joined them, eyeing Astarion curiously.
"Shadowheart, this is Astarion. He has a tadpole just as we do," Char began to explain. Shadowheart glanced between the elf and the drow before she shrugged.
"I suppose we should stick together," she agreed. Char grinned before they climbed farther up the hill.
Along their travels, they also found a wizard stuck in a portal and the gith from the ship caught in a trap. Char helped both, learning their names were Gale and Laezel respectively, and both agreed to travel with their little pack. The drow felt a pang of nostalgia from her early adventuring days with her late friends. However, that nostalgia was short lived when they heard shouting up ahead.
They slowly rounded the corner, seeing another group of adventurers banging on what looked like a concealed gate. Char could see a few figures above the gate shouting back down before she saw the first slew of arrows rain on them. She followed the arc and saw a pack of goblins running towards the adventurers before a battle began.
Char stepped out from behind the rock and released her magic, sending three bolts of energy into the nearest goblin, killing him almost instantly. The pack turned toward her, a few sending arrows her way as the battle grew. Her companions, now known to the goblins, joined in as well, although only Laezel was thrilled at the turn of events.
Within minutes, the battle died, and the adventurers had won out against the goblins, whose corpses now littered the clearing. The gate lifted afterwards, and Char motioned the others to follow. It wasn't much of a civilization, but it was better than the ruins and forest that surrounded them.
"Maybe next time, we don't go rushing in," Astarion posited, clearly irritated that he had to do something other than lounge about.
"What? You would prefer that those goblins just roam about? What if they ambushed us?" Char countered, earning a glare from the elf.
"I'm just saying that we don't have to jump into every fight we come across."
"Duly noted," she replied before a tiefling started to shout at one of the adventurers. They argued about the battle and who was at fault. Feeling another headache coming on, she approached the two arguing. "One fight just ended, and now you're picking another one. Take a breath."
"You're right, of course. There are more important things at hand," the tiefling lamented as the human scoffed.
"Cowards, the both of you," the adventurer accused. Char flashed a grin before punching him in the nose. The adventurer flew backwards, out cold. She shook out her hand as the tiefling exhaled.
"At least now we'll have some quiet," he smiled before bowing his head. "Never thought I would look to a drow for help, but I'm grateful all the same. My name's Zevlor."
"Chardalyn," she replied evenly, wary of his tone.
"Well met, although I should warn you, the grove's being locked down, outsiders are no longer welcome," Zevlor explained. Char folded her arms as she looked down into the grove below. She could see the green magic surrounding a few druids at the center.
"Druids are generally welcoming to outsiders. What's going on?" she wondered as Zevlor sighed.
"There have been creature attacks on the roads, and more goblins seem to pop every day. The druids are blaming us refugees for leading them here, so they've started a ritual to cut the grove off from the outside world," the tiefling explained, shaking his head. "We barely made it here with the gnolls on our tail. My people won't make it if we're forced out. They aren't fighters."
"Where are you bound for?"
"Baldur's Gate, if we can make it. What brings you here, anyway?"
"We're looking for a healer," Char replied with a shrug.
"I hope the battle didn't injure you. I think Nettie can fix you up, she's down in the grove," Zevlor mentioned as his eyes lit up. "Say, maybe you can talk to the head druid here, since she owes you. Maybe you can convince her to stop the ritual. We'll be slaughtered if we leave."
"I suppose we can try," Char agreed, wondering if she should ask the head druid for healing instead of this Nettie. Astarion groaned behind her.
"Really?" he complained. Char shot him a glare before turning back to Zevlor.
"I'll see what we can do, but I can't make any promises. Druids can be… stubborn," Char informed as Zevlor thanked her. He motioned where to go to get to the inner circle. Once out of earshot, Astarion complained again.
"I didn't sign up to be the savior of a bunch of civilians," he hissed as Char rounded on him.
"Neither did I. I said that we would talk to this druid and mention Zevlor's plight. Let's just get these tadpoles out of our heads and get back to Baldur's Gate," Char grimaced, staring at the elf. Astarion held her stare as the other three walked away, finding the Blade of Frontiers a little ways away. He raised an eyebrow, sizing her up. She turned around, ready to follow the others before he opened his mouth again.
"Baldur's Gate, huh?" he pressed as Char frowned. "I wonder why a drow was at the Gate. I saw your memory outside the Elfsong. What were you doing there that you need to get back to so quickly?"
"How do you know I don't live there?" she deflected, keeping her back to him.
"You would have just told me that you lived there," he chuckled, clearly enjoying the little game. Char turned toward him, narrowing her eyes in warning. "What was a lovely dark elf doing in a town like that?"
"I was looking for someone," she informed as she stepped toward him. "And I don't appreciate the interrogation, elf. I was in Baldur's Gate chasing a lead. Why, do you want to help save someone?"
"Must be someone important," he teased with a smirk. Char clenched her jaw, pushing her irritation down.
"I would see the Gate burned down if it meant her safety," Char warned before turning away. Astarion followed as Gale introduced Wyll to their merry little band.
Char actively ignored Astarion as she introduced herself to the Blade of Frontiers. Apparently, he had been chasing down a war devil before the mind flayers abducted them. Now, he was on the hunt for the same devil on the material plane. She grinned, saying that once the tadpole business was handled, she would keep a look out for the devil.
Once they got down the inner section of the grove, it seemed that the tieflings had gotten into an argument with the druids, which ended peacefully once someone turned into a bear. Char pressed forward, stopping before the druids. After some debate about her heritage and Kagha's orders, the group was allowed entry into the grove and into the inner sanctum.
As they descended the steps, Char was shocked to see the scene before her. There was a tiefling child surrounded by two druids and a venomous snake. The tiefling was pleading with the two druids, apologizing profusely. Char gave Astarion a warning look before she approached the two druids.
"This is madness, Kagha! She's just a-" the taller druid began as the other druid cut him off.
"A what, Rath? A thief? A parasite?" Kagha hissed as she glared down at the child. Char stepped forward immediately. "I will rid the grove of these vermin and complete the rite."
"Leave the girl alone!" Char shouted as she stormed towards the druids. Rath seemed surprised as Kagha gave a dark smile. "What has she done to warrant such punishment?"
"She stole our most sacred idol," Kagha informed, the snake slithering closer to the girl.
"And now we have the idol back. No harm done," Rath reminded. Kagha went to argue before Char stepped between the two.
"I'll make sure the girl stays out of trouble. You have my word," Char informed, glancing between them. A moment of silence fell over them before Kagha nodded.
"As long as you take responsibility if she acts up again," Kagha agreed as she motioned for the girl to leave. The tiefling took off without a second glance as Char took a deep breath.
"Thank you, Kagha. If Halsin was here-"
"But he isn't! Remember that next time you want to start an argument," Kagha warned before retrieving her snake. She wandered deeper into the sanctum as Rath approached.
"Thank Silvanus you were here to save her. I don't know what Kagha would have done," Rath exhaled.
Char assured him that it was no problem and that she was glad that child was alright before mentioning that they needed a healer. Rath was glad to point her and the band towards Nettie in the other room before Kagha approached again. Char raised an eyebrow as she turned to face the druid in charge.
"It's rare to see a dark elf on the surface, must be a blessing indeed," the druid sighed. Char grimaced, waiting for her to continue. "I was surprised you offered to save the girl. Surely a daughter of Lloth would understand the need to protect their home from outsiders."
"I'm not a follower of the Spider Queen," Char answered evenly.
"Even rarer still," Kagha whispered.
"I heard that you're locking down the grove. I've never heard of druids cutting themselves off from the outer world."
"A necessary task. More monsters infiltrate these lands every day, and I will see this grove safe. The Rite of Thorns will protect us, as is Silvanus's will."
"You would throw the refugees to the gnolls, then? Sending them out into the monster infested wilderness is a death sentence," Char reminded. Kagha scoffed, shaking her head.
"The rot must be cleansed. We have harbored them for long enough. Once the Rite is complete, the outsiders must leave," the druid sneered. "You handled yourselves well at the gate. Maybe you should offer your services to the tieflings. I'm sure they would reward you well for their safe passage."
"Maybe, but I'll talk to Zevlor at least so he's aware of the timeline," Char replied. The head druid simply hummed in disinterest before leaving. The drow watched as Kagha watched the rats scurry about on the floor. "Come on, let's find Nettie."
"Well, I for one am glad you were able to help that poor girl out," Gale informed, striding beside Char. "The girl certainly wasn't innocent, but that punishment did not fit the crime. I'm glad you stepped in."
"I appreciate that, Gale. I'm just glad we got here when we did, or that snake would've been a lot fatter," Char groaned before shaking her head.
Nettie was found in the inner chambers of the grove, healing an exhausted bird. After some conversation and heated words, the trip ended up being a bust. Nettie couldn't heal them, only offered a way out once ceremorphosis started. Char kept the wyvern poison in her pocket, hoping to use it in combat rather than on herself or her new companions. However, Nettie did mention that the druid Halsin would probably be more helpful than she was. Char was willing to take any advice at this rate.
They climbed out of the grove and informed Zevlor of the development of the Rite. He wasn't thrilled, but he took the news better than Char expected. She offered the idea of hiring mercenaries to guide them out of the area, but he declined. Even with a group of armed people, the goblins had an army. He mentioned that the goblins were more put together than he had seen in the past, making him think they had a new leadership structure. Char grimaced as she told him she would investigate it.
"Your bleeding heart is going to be the end of us," Astarion complained once they were out of Zevlor's den. Char rolled her eyes, guiding the group out of the grove.
"I told him we would investigate it. Besides, this Halsin fellow might be the key to figuring out these worms. Since he was last seen at the goblin camp, I'm guessing they're not going to let him go easily. If we end up taking out the leaders, then we'll get rewarded by Zevlor and the druids," Char explained before glancing back at him. "Unless you have a better idea, bright eyes."
Astarion glared at Char but said nothing as Laezel brought up the need to find the creche. He was loathe to admit it, but Halsin was their best lead now. The drow continued out of the gate and down the mountain away from the crash. The forest grew denser the farther they went, but Char kept to the path as best she could. As the sun started to set, she made her way towards a clearing she saw through the trees.
"This seems like a good place to set up camp," Char nodded, glancing around. The group stopped, a little confused at first.
"We should have bought more supplies at the grove," Shadowheart lamented.
"Or stolen some," Astarion added, reminding them of how little money they had. Char gathered some firewood and made a fire in the center of the clearing.
"You've never camped out in the woods before?" she teased. Her grin faltered as most of the group shook their heads. Wyll was the only one who shrugged, hinting at his time adventuring along the coast. "Well, it's good you found me then. Luckily, it's pretty warm out, so if you stay close to the fire, you shouldn't need a blanket. We should also take turns being on the lookout. The last thing we need is to be ambushed by a bunch of goblins or a bear."
"Who put you in charge?" Astarion asked as he sat close to the fire.
"If anyone else has a better plan, I'm all ears," Char offered. Silence answered her. "I know this isn't the easiest journey, but we can at least work together to fix our heads. Tomorrow, we'll search for signs of the goblin camp and the creche. I'll take the first watch tonight."
The group settled in around the fire as Gale baked a few potatoes he had found in a crate near the grove. Char checked the perimeter of their makeshift camp before she climbed into a tree, getting a good view of the area. She sighed once she was alone, glad for the moment of peace and rest. It had been a long time since she had slept in the dirt with nothing but the clothes on her back. Long before she had even been married, but she shook the thought away quickly.
The night passed easily as Wyll relieved her in the early morning. She thanked him before she lay next to the fire, finding enough peace to trance. Memories popped up and ran through her mind. She thought of her old adventuring days with her old friends, and she thought of her two daughters. Her mind wandered down that memory before seeing her late husband. Her chest squeezed; the memory too fresh of him on his death bed. He had led a full long human life, leaving her with their children.
Char rose as the sun shone on her face, tears streaming down her cheeks. She quickly wiped them away as the camp began to stir again. There was some grumbling and irritation as they woke on hard dirt instead of their usual bedding, but Char ignored it. Instead, she made sure to smother the embers of their fire before brushing herself off.