Chapter 4
The Emerald Grove
Eleasis 21, 1492 DR
The next morning, Hazel opened her eyes and sat up. The campfire had gone out, smoke still barely rising from it. She turned and noticed Withers was still in his spot, reading his scrolls. She also realized it was the second day since she has been infected. She stood from her bedroll and examined herself. She felt fine…seemed normal enough. No fever or chills, and no sign of tentacles sprouting from her face.
Astarion sauntered towards the dying campfire, while the rest began to get ready for the day.
"So, not a tentacle to be seen." He mused, examining Hazel.
"I could say the same thing for you." Hazel replied. Though he was quite pale, he didn't appear to be ill.
"Indeed, you could." Astarion replied. "We're all doing surprisingly well, given the circumstances. I'm not taking anything for granted, of course. First sign of change and I'll have to stop that pretty little heart of yours." He pointed to her chest before continued. "I am open to suggestions. Knives, poison, strangulation- whatever you'd prefer."
Hazel thought for a moment before answering. "I'm not sure… how would you like to go?"
"I don't think poison is for me." Astarion admitted. "Nor stabbing come to think of it…I always felt decapitation was a fine choice. One good swing and then- nothing." He pantomimed swinging an axe and chuckled. "But we were talking about you. What'll it be?"
"Decapitation sounds good, actually." Hazel decided.
"A fine choice." Astarion agreed. "Now, to use sword or axe? Or a saw? Hmm… well, I'm getting ahead of myself. This is all worst-case scenario, obviously."
"We won't let that happen." Hazel said. "It can't."
"If today has taught me anything, it's that the impossible is more likely than you think." Astarion said. "We should be getting ready with the others. The sooner we start today, the better our chances of keeping this hypothetical."
Hazel nodded, and gathered her pack. She found a private spot to put on her druid armor, the oak leaf and acorn emblem placed at the center of her chest. She walked back to the camp, watching Aiden struggling with his chainmail.
Tom had been looking at his old, green clothes, still tattered and torn from the day before.
"Try this." Asha handed him some leather armor she had picked up from the crypt. "We'll help you find better armor."
"Thanks." Tom said as he began to put on the leather.
"How many bullets?" Asha asked.
"Seven." Tom replied. "I gotta make each one count."
The team ate breakfast and set off on the trail away from the crypt. There was an old carriage abandoned on the side of the road. As they continued up the trail, something caught Hazel's ears.
"I hear shouting up ahead." Hazel said.
"Music to a Githyanki's ears." Lae'zel said.
"We should check it out, but be careful." Astarion urged.
Hazel rushed forward, immediately spotting familiar patterns in the rocks. They were near a druid grove. Near a wall of ivy, three adventurers were standing, looking up at the rocks. It was then Hazel spotted a Tiefling in armor.
"Open the bloody gate!" The adventuring leader pleaded.
"Nobody gets in, Zevlor's orders." The Tiefling shouted back.
Astarion placed his hand on Hazel's shoulder.
"The pack of goblins will be on us any second!" The leader shouted.
"What's going on?" Another Tiefling appeared over the rocks. He had red skin, and large horns, indicating he had lived many years. His voice had a gentle authority. Hazel figured he was Zevlor.
"Goblins are on our tail! Open the gate, Zevlor-NOW!" The leader yelled again.
"You led goblins here?!" Zevlor yelled back. "Where is the druid?!"
The leader turned to one of his teammates. He was holding a shield with a goblin arrow lodged into the wood. The leader pulled out the arrow and presented it to Zevlor.
"Please, there's no time!" He pleaded again.
He was right, a group of goblins, along with a bugbear and a worg had caught up, standing meters away from the group. Astarion must have seen them before Hazel did, as he also pulled on her shoulder to keep her out of the fray.
"By the Nine Hells!" Zevlor gasped. "Open the gate!" One of the Tieflings began to struggle with the wheel, slowly opening the gate. The wall of ivy was lifted. Before the team could retreat into the grove, the goblins began to shoot their arrows.
The Tiefling who was opening the gate was shot twice in the chest, falling out of Hazel's sight.
"Kanon! No!" Zevlor shouted.
The gate fell before the three adventurers could get inside, they even attempted to hold it open, but it was in vain.
Once they realized they were corned, the leader pulled out his sword. "Shit, form a line!"
From above the rocks, Hazel also spotted a strange light shooting towards one of the goblins, killing her instantly.
"Damnable roach!" A man shouted- a human. He jumped from the rocks, holding a rapier. He charged towards another goblin. "Provoke the Blade…" He stabbed the goblin in the heart, then grabbed his shoulder and pushed him away. "And suffer Its sting." He declared; his rapier now covered in blood.
"We have to help!" Hazel said, breaking away from Astarion.
"Htak'a!" Yan'lu shouted in agreement, pulling out her staff.
Asha jumped to action as well, pulling out her bow and shooting a goblin.
The leader of the pack shouted, swinging a scimitar at the leader of the adventurers. "Scouts, get to the high ground! Raiders, charge the bastards!"
Ella ran forward towards the goblin leader.
"For the Absolute!" The goblin yelled, right before Ella hit him with a fire bolt. The bugbear and the worg began attacking the other adventures.
A goblin booyahg shot grease at Asha. The Tiefling was covered in grease, but she didn't fall.
Astarion shot an arrow at the goblin leader. Shadow shot her guiding bolt at the booyahg, and killing her. Gale shot a fire bolt at the bugbear, setting his fur on fire.
"By sickle and sword, strike them down!" The new human yelled, lunging towards the worg. Aiden used his guiding bolt to finish off the goblin leader. The adventurer leader swung his sword at the singed bugbear, missing once then cutting him down after. Yan'lu was fighting a brawler, while Tom attempted to shoot the worg. Lae'zel also turned her bow towards the worg, shooting an arrow into its back. A goblin tracker shot an arrow at Asha, grazing her cheek. Hazel took out her thorn whip and aimed toward the tracker. She nearly missed, but managed to wrap it around her wrist and pull her off the rock she was standing on. The goblin cried out in pain, holding her wrist that was covered in thorns.
Zevlor had finally reached a horn, blowing into it, rallying the fighters. He added another arrow into the worg's back. Ella was finally able to use another fire bolt and hit the worg, burning it to death. One of the adventurers managed to kill the goblin brawler, while Shadow took down another tracker. Aiden used his guiding bolt again, hitting the last tracker, ending the battle.
"That was the last of them." Zevlor said in relief. "Inside, all of you! More may follow!" The adventurers rushed in first, followed by the human stranger. Some of the group had paused to pickpocket the dead goblins. Astarion had found special gloves- made with magic.
"Six bullets." Tom said aloud as the party walked through the gate. They walked through a small tunnel, and into the druid's grove.
"Glad that fight is over." Aiden said.
"They were tenacious. I wondered what they wanted…other than bloodshed." Shadow added.
Their conversation was interrupted when they heard Zevlor shouting at the leader.
"Aradin!" He snapped. "There are children here, you fool!"
"We was running for our lives!" Aradin said, still trying to catch his breath.
"You led them right to us, and you let them take the druid too? Unbelievable!" Zevlor raised his voiced.
"One fight just ended, and now you're picking another? Relax!" Hazel interrupted.
"And who the hell are you again?" Aradin spat, turning to Hazel.
"Show some respect!" Zevlor snapped. "This woman just saved your pathetic life!"
"Well, I didn't ask for any godsdammed help!" Aradin turned his anger back to Zevlor.
"Please, you were practically begging me to open the gate-anything to save yourself, you coward!"
"I would have been lying dead if you had stalled any longer!"
"My duty is to this camp!"
"Oh, god forbid you risk your precious tail. But I shouldn't be surprised. Foul-bloods ain't know for courage." Zevlor stepped towards Aradin. Both men now stood face to face, jaws twitching, fists clenching; the tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Even Asha had tensed up from the 'foul-blood' comment. It was a slur for Tieflings. Hazel wondered if she would punch Aradin before Zevlor did.
"More violence won't bring back those you lost!" Another voice interrupted. Everyone turned to see a halfling marching up to the group- a ranger… She had brown, curly hair, and dark freckles covered her face. "Stop and think!"
Zevlor sighed. "You're right, Miss Brownlock. There's too much at stake."
"Worried about your precious hides, the both of ya?" Aradin sneered.
"Enough!" Zevlor raised his voice again. "Squabbling is pointless! The goblins have found us…"
"At least we agree on that." Aradin nodded, finally calming himself. "Remira, Barth, come on!" He led his team into the grove. Zevlor turned to the group.
"Forgive that display. Aradin's a blowhard but that's no excuse for me to join him. Thank you, for your help out there at the gate, I wouldn't have look to a drow for aid, but I'm grateful all the same. I'm Zevlor."
"You have something against drow?" Ella asked.
"I meant no insult!" Zevlor reassured. "It's simply that yours is a people at war with themselves. I've never known them to care for outsiders."
"Oh." Ella nodded.
"Whatever your business, I'd see to it quickly." Zevlor continued. "The druids are forcing everyone out. This attack will only strengthen their resolve."
"Why are they forcing you out?" Hazel asked. It was an odd thing to hear about druids pushing out those in need…especially from her circle.
"There have been several attacks from different monsters." Zevlor answered. "The druids blame us 'outsiders' for drawing them here. Nobody's welcome anymore. They've started a ritual- to cut off the grove from the world outside. We can't stay, but we'll be slaughtered if we leave…we're no fighters…" He trailed off, a deep sorrow in his eyes.
"This ritual…is there no way to stop it?" Aiden asked.
"I've tried, but Kagha- their new first druid- won't even see me…you though…" He paused and looked at the symbol of Silvanus on Hazel's chest. "I know it's not your business, but she owes you for saving this place. Perhaps you could persuade her- for more time to prepare if nothing else." Zevlor suggested.
"I'll see what I can do." Hazel decided.
"Really? We're messengers now?" Astarion asked.
"We'd owe you a great debt." Zevlor said. "If we are forced to leave now, we won't make it to the city."
"Um, Hazel, I appreciate you wanting to help…" Aiden chimed in. "But…we need a healer."
"Goblin got you?" Zevlor asked. "The druid Halsin's a renowned healer, but he didn't make it back from Aradin's expedition. If it's not too serious, you could try his apprentice, Nettie. She's with the other druids, in the inner grove. They've withdrawn there to prepare for this damn ritual of theirs. It's in the heart of the grove…and while you're there…please, make them see sense."
Hazel nodded and the group began to walk away.
"Oh, and if it's of any concern…" Zevlor stopped the group, walking up to Ella. "You're brave to walk around without hiding your heritage. I'll make sure everyone knows that you helped us at the gate."
Ella nodded before the group continued to make their way into the hollow. A group of Tieflings were packing crates, some standing around, talking loudly.
"Well met!" The halfling ranger approached Hazel. "I'm Rose Brownlock of Ethdale!" She enthusiastically shook Hazel's hand.
"Hazel Dawnlight of Firgrove." Hazel replied. Suddenly, images floated through her mind; a warm hearth, a loving family of halflings, tables of food as far as the eye could see…
"Ugh…you're infected too?" Hazel asked.
"Sadly yes." Rose grumbled. "I'm assuming you're looking for a cure?"
"Yes, would you like to join us?" Hazel asked.
"For now, I suppose." Rose shrugged. "I like to wander, so I'm sure you'll see me again if you lose me."
Hazel giggled. "That's unusual for a halfling."
"It's a family thing." Rose replied. "My brother's a ranger too." Her eyes widened as though she realized something. "Actually, you'll have to go on without me. I must find a messenger bird as soon as I can. If I don't write to my family soon, my brother will come looking for me…" The halfling took off before Hazel could say anything else. She shrugged and continued towards another halfling. He stood by a table, items on display. He turned and smiled at Hazel.
"Refugees, adventures, and now even a drow! No one in years, and suddenly, we're overwhelmed!" The halfling said. "Well met, I'm Arron. Need anything? I give discounts to fellow druids. But be quick, the ritual will start soon."
"Are you really locking down the grove?" Hazel asked.
"Drastic times call for drastic measures." Arron said.
"What about the people here?"
"The druids here will be safe, as for those who must leave…I pray Silvanus will protect them."
"You'd leave them to die…" Hazel reasoned.
"Like I said, it's a drastic measure!" Arron argued. "I don't want it to happen either, but it's Kagha's decision. And more and more monsters seem to terrify this region every day."
Hazel nodded. "Very well…may I see your wares?"
"Of course." Arron nodded back.
The group began to trade with Arron. Hazel bought a healing potion, along with some herbs. Others bought healing potions as well, along with arrows, and provisions.
"Silvanus guide your path." Arron bid them farewell as they continued into the hollow.
"Maybe we could split up?" Aiden suggested. "Cover more ground. See what we can do about this ritual, and find Nettie as well."
"Good idea." Hazel said. "And Lae'zel can find this Zorru."
"Exceptional plan." Lae'zel said. The group began to split.
~jb~
Asha approached the group of loud Tieflings.
"I will not gamble our lives- our futures- on people who are as good as dead. We must head for Baldur's Gate. At once!" The tallest Tiefling said.
"Can we all just take a moment, please?" The second tallest asked, lowering his voice.
"What's the point of blades and spells if we don't bloody use them!" The shortest, and only woman of the trio shouted. "We should stay! These people aren't fighters, we can help!"
"Or yell louder, that's fine too." The second Tiefling said curtly.
"You should all stay." Asha said. "She's right. They're our kin. One blade could make a difference."
"Thank you!" The woman said. "It's the right thing to do, and you know it!"
"She's right, Rolan." The second Tiefling turned to the tallest. "We're better than this."
"Zurgan!" Rolan grumbled. "Fine, I'll stay too- lest you both get pierced by a goblin blade. Maybe it'll make for a good story."
"Thank you, Rolan." The woman finally lowered her voice, a look of relief across her face. Asha watched them walk further into the hollow. She looked over at what looked like a training ground. She spotted the human from the gate. He was teaching some young Tiefling lads how to use swords.
"Children! Look who's here!" Another Tiefling smiled as Asha walked towards them. Asha watched the man with a young Tiefling.
"Go on, give me your best shot." The man said. The young whelp swung his sword, hitting the man's rapier. "Not bad, again." The red Tiefling swung his sword and lunged. The man easily dodged him and bumped him with the blunt edge of the rapier. The child stretched his arm, a look of discouragement on his face.
"I can't do it, Wyll." The boy lowered his head. "I'm not like you…"
"Umi, I don't need you to be like me." Wyll replied, kneeling on one knee to look Umi in the eyes. "You just have to buy enough time to run. Come on, I believe in you. You can do this."
"That's good advice, child." Asha added. "You'd do well to listen." Umi looked up at Asha. His face lit up instantly. He must have heard about what happened at the gate. To him, Asha must have looked like a real hero…
"You're on the right path, Umi." Wyll encouraged. "Now, practice what you've learned." Once Umi had turned his sword towards a practice dummy, Wyll turned his attention to Asha. He smiled warmly at her.
"Well met." Wyll nodded. "The Blade of Frontiers at your-" He stopped and groaned, as though he had been punched in the gut. Asha almost made the same noise when she felt the tadpole moving in her skull. His smile vanished as his thoughts became hers. She was now the Blade of Frontiers, racing through the wastes of Avernus. Just ahead, a diabolical figure, red skin, a single, curled horn, blazed with flame, bloodied great axe held high.
"Hells great fires." Wyll said. "You were on the ship."
"Yes, and we both carry mind flayer parasites." Asha added.
"Doomed to shed our skin and become illithid, or so the stories go." Wyll said. "But we haven't spouted any tentacles. Not yet, anyway. Could just be good luck. I'm not so…" Wyll trailed off when his mind collied with Asha's once more. Wyll chased the fiend, ignited with rancor. She is an infernal war devil. A threat to the living. Evil incarnate.
"Shit! You saw her." Wyll whispered. "Advocatus Diaboli."
Asha recognized that phrase; The Devil's Advocate. A champion in the Blood War between diabolical forces and demons…
"Who is she?" Yan'lu spoke up, almost making Asha jump. She didn't realize the small Gith had followed her to the training grounds.
"Her name is Karlach, an archdevil solider I swore on my good eye to kill." Wyll pointed towards his head, one of his eyes was in fact, normal, and a beautiful shade of brown. The other eye seemed to be made of stone.
"I tracked through the Hells to the mind flayer ship, but the damned illithids infected me before I could end her. She's out there now, praying on the innocent. I don't kill her; she'll leave behind nothing but a trail of corpses."
"I'm looking for a cure for this parasite." Asha said. "Maybe we should partner up."
"Just so you know, my first duty is Karlach. I'm oath-bound to go after her." Wyll answered quickly. "But I won't deny this infection is bothersome…I accept your invitation." Asha smiled and nodded.
"Excuse me," The other Tiefling approached Asha. "I'm Ahsarak. You were at the gates just now, yes? You fight well…can you share a few words with the kids, spare a story or two?" The three lads were looking up at her, including Umi. Their eyes were bright and hopeful.
"Stories? There's not much to tell." Asha admitted. "But I will say this; look after your kin. In trust, there is victory."
The boys started smiling and laughing.
"Thank you." The teacher said. "I prefer when they smile."
Asha smiled and nodded, and watched as Yan'lu approached another grown Tiefling, who was training. Asha walked over to watch as well.
"Swing, parry, lunge- dammit!" The Tiefling clenched his teeth. "It's just not landing."
"Having some trouble?" Yan'lu asked.
"Nothing but." The Tiefling replied. "Goblins looking to slaughter outside, and the druids in here looking to kick us out. The road to Baldur's Gate is dangerous, but I'm useless with a sword."
"Try distributing your weight." Yan'lu pointed to his legs. "Widen your stance."
"Oh, right…I'll try this, like so…" The Tiefling nodded. "Swing, step, parry- yes!" He cheered, finally hitting the dummy. "You really know what you're doing!" He complimented Yan'lu. "I found this by the road. Bet you'll put it to good use?" He gave her a hand axe.
"Yes, thank you." Yan'lu smiled and nodded. "Ome more thing, don't shout your moves likes that. It will spoil the surprise."
"Oh, of course. I'll bite my tongue when the time comes." The Tiefling said.
"Keep it up, and you'll make short work of any goblin." Yan'lu said.
~jb~
Meanwhile, Tom and Lae'zel continued their search for Zorru, followed by Aiden, Hazel, Shadow, and Astarion. Gale and Ella had gone elsewhere, still looking for Nettie.
It wasn't hard to spot Zorru when a Tiefling began to cower at the sight of Lae'zel.
"By Mordai's eyes!" He gasped. "Another one! My friend's blood not enough? Come to rip me open too?!"
Lae'zel just crossed her arms. "In Creche K'liir, a formal greeting begins with a bow." She said sternly.
"Is this monster with you?" Zorru asked, turning to Tom.
"Yes, and I suggest you do what she says." Tom said, bothered by the use of the word 'monster.' Sure, she had yellow-green skin with black spots on her cheeks, and eyes like a reptile, but Zorru looked just as frightening to Tom. To him, no one looked normal.
Zorru bended his waist, slowly bowing to Lae'zel.
"Lower." Lae'zel said. Zorru looked at Tom in confusion. Tom said nothing, and waited for him to comply.
Zorru got on his knees, head hung and hands shaking.
"You saw another Gith, where?" Lae'zel asked.
"On the road to Baldur's Gate…N-near the mountain pass…" Zorru stuttered. "S-saw us before we saw it…jammed its b-blade through Yul's belly…s-straight to the other side…"
"No twisting?" Lae'zel mused. "Kin must have been in a hurry." She grabbed the map as Aiden handed it to her, and a piece of charcoal from Hazel.
"The map. Show me!" Lae'zel demanded. Zorru quickly marked where he had seen the Gith. True to his word, he placed an 'X' near a picture of the mountains.
Once he was done, Lae'zel snatched the parchment from him. "Up." She said. "You can keep your innards."
Zorru stood, still hanging his head.
"You're not going to eviscerate him?" Astarion clicked his tongue. "I was hoping for a show."
"Cool your blood!" Lae'zel snapped at the elf. "I'll indulge you soon enough."
"Gods, deliver me!" Zorru ran off when Asha and Yan'lu approached. "Not another one!"
"Are all Githyanki so cruel?" A man asked. Tom recognized him from the gate.
"This is Wyll. The Blade of Frontiers." Asha introduced.
"Well, the locals prove compliant. A useful trait." Lae'zel said.
Tom felt someone tap his shoulder. He turned to see Shadow glaring at him. "I warned you, didn't I?" She snapped. "You ought to reconsider keeping her around before she causes real trouble."
"She's good at interrogations." Tom reasoned. "From personal experience, that might come handy in the future."
"Chk! A shell so thin it requires little to crack it." Lae'zel retorted. "The teeth-ling was clear. If there is a creche in the mountains, that must be our objective. Purification cannot wait!"
"Heh, did you say teeth-ling?" Hazel giggled, along with Aiden and Shadow.
Lae'zel rolled her eyes. "I am unfamiliar with the -I shall not say culture- custom, perhaps…" She turned to Hazel. "You will educate me on matters of this Fay-run."
"Um…it's Faerun…" Hazel corrected.
"Tch!" Lae'zel scoffed.
"What do you mean 'purification?'" Tom asked.
"When infected with a ghaik tadpole, we must report to a ghustil at the nearest creche. Only a ghustil can cleanse us. By covenant, I can say no more." Lae'zel answered.
~jb~
Astarion and Hazel began to lead the group around the hollow, finding more Tieflings gathering supplies. But Hazel noticed two fighters running towards a small cave, hidden behind a wooden fence and gate. Hazel followed, sensing Astarion behind her. She noticed a goblin woman with red hair in a small cage, shouting insults at the Tieflings.
"You Tieflings are borin', even your cages are borin'!" She said.
"Shut up!" The Tiefling woman snapped at the goblin. "My brother is dead now! Someone is going to pay!"
"You ain't gonna shoot me." The goblin sneered. "Your 'ands are shakin'."
"Don't so this!" The other Tiefling said. "She can't fight back!"
"That's the point!" The woman snapped, holding a crossbow towards the goblin. "Get out of the way, Memnos!"
"She didn't kill your brother, Arka!" Memnos said. "You're better than this." He added as he stepped out of her way.
"Shoot before you lose your nerve, teeflin." The goblin said. "If you ever 'ad it to begin with." Hazel remained silent, unsure what to do or say. "Doesn't even matter if you kill me! Chosen by the Absolute I am. I'm blessed."
"Oh, I'll bless you all right!" Arka snapped again. "Here it comes, you little beast!" With that, she shot the goblin then stormed out of the makeshift prison. "There. Done."
"I'm sorry about her…" Memnos said to Hazel. "Her brother was trying to open the gate…he's the one who got shot."
Hazel nodded in understanding. She watched Memnos run after Arka. She turned to the goblin, suddenly feeling a pull from the amulet she found…the Amulet of Lost Voices…
She placed the amulet around her neck, and felt a gentle hand guiding her. She lifted her hand, a rune glowing above it. The goblin's body began to levitate. Her eyes opened, glowing yet still lifeless.
"What's your name?" Hazel asked.
"Sazza…" The goblin's corpse replied. "Toughest in…the tribe."
"Can anyone in your tribe heal?"
"Priestess Gut…powerful." Sazza replied.
"Where can I find this Priestess Gut?" Hazel asked.
"West…temple ruins…"
Hazel hesitated. It was twice she had heard 'The Absolute.'
"Who is The Absolute?" Hazel asked.
"Everything…all of us." Sazza answered.
"Who leads your tribe?" Hazel asked.
"Boss Ragzlin…and the drow…" The goblin went silent. Hazel felt the spell's power waning as the corpse floated back to the ground.
"I told you that amulet would come in handy." Astarion said. "Now we have more options for healers- in case this Nettie can't heal us."
"You're right." Hazel nodded. "Let's keep going."
Through the hollow, they came across another Tiefling.
"Damn druids…who uses wooden tools? I miss my old furnace…" He sighed and then turned to the group. "Thanks for fighting off those goblins. My name is Dammon. If you need to replace any gear, just ask. My selection's pretty slim. I had to leave most of my equipment in Elturel."
"That forge is holding on by a thread." Asha mused. "Are you a smith?"
"Of sorts." Dammon replied. "Used to be a bread-and-butter tinsmith before Elturel fell into Avernus. These days my talents are more…eclectic. Learned a lot in my time in the Hells. Hope to forget most of it. But between you and me, there's nothing in all the realms like the utter power of infernal machinery. Alas- my offerings are far more humble these days."
"May we see your wares?" Asha asked.
"Of course."
The group began to trade with Dammon. Hazel lost interest looking at the metal weapons and decided to explore more of the hollow, sensing Astarion was still following her. She approached an elderly human woman, old clothes, and busying herself with potion bottles.
"Hello, Petal!" She greeted Hazel. "Aw, if it isn't the talk o' the camp! Thank goodness you came along when you…oh…" She trailed off as she looked at Hazel. "There isn't a bit o' color in those cheeks, Petal! Are you hurt? Cold? Feverish? Auntie Ethel will sort ya right out! I've lotions and potions galore!"
Hazel decided to let her fuss over her. She kind of reminded her of her grandmother back in Firgrove.
"There ya are!" Auntie Ethel handed her a bottle of a potion of greater healing. "Just take a sup of that, and you'll feel right as rain, Sweetie!"
"Might this concoction help with a more serious ailment?" Hazel couldn't help but ask.
"Well, that depends." Auntie Ethel said. "What's wrong, Lovie?"
"I have a condition…a very…strange condition…"
"Oh, I've seen it all!" Auntie Ethel chuckled. "I once met a man who had been caught dabbling with a dryad. The wife was none too pleased, and introduced him to a pot of boiling oil. I fixed him right up, and depending on the lighting, he looks good as new! My point is; whatever ails you, I promise I've seen it all!"
"My, she sounds positively demented…" Astarion whispered to Hazel. "I love it! Let's tell her everything!" He giggled.
"What is it, Petal?" Auntie Ethel pressed, concern filling her eyes.
Hazel took a deep breath and explained the whole story. As she recounted the events of the past few days, Auntie Ethel nodded along, eyes still filled with concern.
"Oh my! Sounds like you had quite a rough time." Auntie Ethel said. "You poor love, my heart goes out to you, truly…though I'm surprised there's no tentacle to found…I've neither a potion or lotion here but…yes, I might have something at my house…You'll have to meet me there. Just at the edge of the forest!" Hazel handed her a map and some charcoal. She marked an 'X' towards the west. "Now, is there anything else you need, Love?"
"What harm? May I see your wares?"
"Nae bother!" Auntie Ethel cheered, gesturing to the table she was working on. Hazel purchased a potion of Hill Giant strength. "Be careful on the road." The old lady insisted. "I'd hate if something happened to you…good luck, Petal."
Once the group met back up, they continued to walk towards the heart of the grove.
~jb~
Ella and Gale had been exploring the grove, they had seen Arka and Memnos grieving over Kannon's body. Arka had declared someone will pay for her brother's death, then stormed off. Ella tried not to look at Kannon's body, as something odd stirred in her.
They went to another area, overlooking the grove. A Tiefling woman was looking through a telescope. Ella spotted a bugbear sneaking from the bushes.
"Watch out!" Ella shouted, lunging towards the bugbear. She pulled out her dagger and began to stab the bugbear to death. She turned to the Tiefling.
"Thank you." She sighed in relief. "I've never been much of a fighter, so rustling a bugbear would've ended…poorly. But…you're not here for heroics, are you? Let me guess, your devil mistress sent you to get her soul coin back. Too bad. I earned it, fair and square."
"Devil…soul coin?" Ella asked. "You've lost me…"
"I almost believe you." The Tiefling retorted. "Care to explain why you reek of the Hells?"
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you…" Ella admitted. She explained her story, from losing her memory, to the tadpole, to crashing the ship after flying through Avernus.
"Well, that's quite the story." The Tiefling said. "And I thought I was doomed…now I feel sorry for you. Here, take this." She pulled out an iron coin- similar to the one Hazel had found in the crypt. "It's worth a fortune…but a fortune isn't worth much of you're dead."
Ella examined the soul coin. It was made of a heavy iron. She didn't know much about them, at least, not that she could remember. She pocketed the soul coin and looked through the pockets of the dead bugbear. She found five gold pieces.
She noticed the unused telescope and decided to look through it. She spotted a red dragon flying in the distance, and something in her stirred. She reached up and touched one of her cheeks, feeling the scales on her face…
That's right…she was s sorcerer of draconic bloodline…that was all she could remember…
"That was quick thinking." Gale complimented Ella as they walked back into the grove. They decided to look for the group. "You're not versed in magic, are you?"
"What?" Ella asked. "I'm a sorcerer!"
"Oh, excuse me. I meant to ask of you're a wizard… But I forgot you're a sorcerer…" He shrugged. "There's an expert I would like to meet with soon…there's a personal matter I need to discuss with them."
"About the tadpole?" Ella asked.
"Not exactly." Gale said. "Something else."
Suddenly, a squirrel was standing in their path. Ella watched it for a moment. It was the most adorable thing she had ever seen. It would be ever so twee if it climbed up a tree…
…
…
…
"Surely you should be using your foot for more deserving foes. That poor creature was harmless." Gale said.
Ella shook her head, immediately regretting it when she realized she had a headache. She saw blood on her boot, and when she looked up, she saw blood on a nearby tree, and a dead squirrel lying on the ground.
What did she do?
Ella gagged, trying to suppress her vomit. "It's horrible…I'm horrible…"
"Are you okay?" Gale asked.
"I…I don't know…" Ella said. "Did I… do that?"
"Hm…maybe you need a rest." Gale said uneasily. "Let's find the others." They made their way back to the hollow, Gale and Ella agreed not to tell Hazel about the squirrel.
~jb~
Once Gale and Ella returned to the group, they explained what happened with the bug bear. They continued to make their way to the heart of the grove. There was a young Tiefling by the road. He had a table with random trinkets. He approached Astarion.
"Hold out your hand, mister! I want to show you something." He said.
Astarion paused and watched. The young boy held out his hands, but then swung his hands and revealed a ring. "Take this ring, it's lucky!"
"Nice! Is that Hammar's Flourish?" Astarion complimented.
"Uh…I never learned the names, just the tricks." The boy admitted. "Anyway, take this ring, it's lucky!"
Astarion reached for the ring, held it in one hand, and then in the other, then made the ring vanish into thin air.
"Weeping, bleeding hells!" The boy's eyes widened. "Okay, maybe you don't need the extra luck, but sense you're already holding the thing…" He pulled out a gold coin. "Call it, heads or tails?"
"Heads."
"Heads it is!" The boy yelled after flipping the coin. "See? That's the kind of luck you get from one of my lucky rings. I have a lot more where that came from. Real cheep too, interested?"
"Wait a moment." Astarion said. "One coin toss doesn't prove anything."
"You want to call it again?" The boy held out the coin. "Go on."
"Tails."
"Tails it is!" The boy said. "There, happy?"
"No, do it again."
"Ugh, fine. Heads or tails?"
"Heads."
"Heads it is."
"Again."
"What? You're killing me, mister! Fine, heads or tails?"
"Tails."
"Tails it is!" The boy's enthusiasm began to diminish as Astarion asked him to flip the coin again and again.
"Astarion…" Hazel said sternly.
"I'm satisfied." Astarion reassured. "May I see your other wares?"
"Of course." The boy said, rubbing his hands together. "This is what I've got."
Astarion decided to buy a bag of thieves' tools, to the boy's surprise.
"You bought something!" The boy exclaimed. "Most folks usually say its old junk and move on."
Before Astarion could reply, he felt something brush his back. He quickly turned to see another young Tiefling. The girl stepped back and began to cry.
"Well, now." Astarion mused. "Someone's starting early. Who taught you that?"
"One of the big kids." The girl sniffed. "How…how did you catch me?"
Astarion wanted to tell her she could've woken the dead, but Hazel was standing right next to him. "Hm…it was just bad luck this time. But you have talent, I can tell."
"Wow…thanks." The girl said, her tears vanishing. "I guess I'll try harder not to get caught next time…bye."
The group turned back to the heart of the grove, finding the entrance blocked by a group of Tieflings.
"Let my daughter go, right now!" A woman shouted.
Three druids stood at the entrance. The woman in the middle stepped forward. "She's a thief, Hellspawn, and you will wait for Kagha's judgement, now get back!"
The Tiefling woman growled. "Let me through, mragreshem, or I'll rip your damn throat out!"
One of the druids roared in response, changing his shape into a large grizzly bear. The Tieflings began to step back in defeat.
"Do all the damn rituals you want! We're not leaving until it's safe!" One of the Tieflings yelled.
"We could have taken them, Locke!" The first woman said, turning to her husband.
"I'd rather you not get eaten by a bear, Komira." Locke replied.
The group looked at each other nervously, but continued to make their way towards the entrance. The bear began to growl as they approached.
"Calm, Maggran, give them a chance." The woman said to the bear. "You, get back!" She pointed at the group.
"May the druid pass?" Aiden spoke up. "We have urgent business."
"Druid or not, she's still an outsider." The woman said.
"We're not looking for trouble," Hazel reassured. "May we please pass?"
"No, and you'll find trouble all the same unless you get out of my sight!" The woman said. The third druid spoke up, a forest gnome with a kinder voice.
"A moment, Jeorna." He said.
"What?" Jeorna turned in surprise, bending slightly so the gnome could whisper to her. "Oh…I understand." She turned back to Hazel. "You, apparently Kagha wants to see you. Go ahead. And keep your friends out of trouble."
The adventurers walked past the druids, and into the heart of the grove.
AN: This chapter is finally done! And it was definitely getting too long. I had to split this up a little.