Chapter 4

So, we continued on past where we found Gale and up the path—following old fish nets and shovels hoping to find a settlement to trade our ill-gotten goods and maybe find a healer that could rid us of the worm. Following the path we saw two more horned people talking worriedly to each other and a familiar face in a cage dangling up by a tree. The githyanki from the ship was standing in the cage arms folded and looking even more cross than usual.

"Stay back some of these monsters tried to attack our group." The male horned person said with alarm.

"We should leave now, get back to the others." The female horned person said to the male.

Looking at my githyanki companion I could hear her voice inside my head, our tadpoles giving us telepathic communication.

"Get rid of them", the githyanki demanded. That would be best, while the githyanki was grumpy and might kill me if I pissed her off, she was a good fighter and knew things about the mindflayers. But I also couldn't just kill these people. Time to be tactful.

"She's right this beast is far too dangerous to be around you should run back to your camp, lest she rip out your throat with her mighty jowls," I said in my best dramatic prose.

"You heard him we should get back to the grove." The female horned person said

"Speaking of, me and my companions have goods to sell for food and supplies, where is this grove?" I asked

"The Emerald Grove is just to the left of this clearing look for the wooden gate built into a rock wall." With that helpful direction, the horned people left for the grove.

"They're gone. Get me down from here." The githyanki demanded

"Say please, this would be the second time I've saved your green hide," I responded smugly.

"Never" the githyanki spat.

"Thought not, grab onto the bars frog face." She did as I asked, and I aimed my staff at the wooden bars at her feet and whispered a quick "Fozare". The bars broke instantly and the githyanki let go of the other bars and dropped firmly on the ground.

We walked up to the githyanki, "Seems the worm has not scrambled all your senses. Auspicious."

"Nice to see you too, glad you're not dead or turned, yes your welcome for getting you off the ship." I said with sass dripping from my upraised lips.

"Cease your mindless prattle wizard, we must find a creche if we are to be cleansed."

"And what is a creche" I asked

"It is many things. A hatchery, a training grounds, a shelter. Githyanki protocol is clear: when infected with a ghaik tadpole, we must report to a ghustil for purification."

"Alright, it's the best lead thus far let's find this creche"

"You have made an ally from creche K'llir- few know such fortune. Call me Lae'zel." The githyanki announced.

"I'll trust your judgement on this, but I think she sees your kindness as a weakness. Don't let her take advantage." Shadowheart warned.

"You've a sharp tongue elf, prove that your mind is it's equal."

"Half-elf and I'll keep my eye on you gith."

"No matter. Come wizard the horned ones mentioned a camp. One there- this Zorru- has seen githyanki." Without another word, Lae'zel marched forward towards where the horned people said the grove was.

We followed Lae'zel to the entrance to the grove and found a group of humans banging on the gate. "Open the gate! The goblins are after us!" the man in front screamed.

"Aradin! You lead the goblins here? Where is the druid?!" a red-horned person said at the top of the gate.

"There's no time! Open the gate Zevlor before…" As Aradin continued his plea, short green creatures ambushed the group firing arrows at them. They were followed by a large muscular creature that had the mane of a lion and the snot of a dog if the mussel was lower, and the teeth were razor sharp.

The horned people tried to open the gate, but the goblins shot the man turning the wheel. Upon his death, a human man jumped over the rock wall and shot one of the goblins with a lace of green force. "Damnable rogues! Provoke the blade and suffer its sting!" The human cried as he plunged his rapier into another goblin.

From what I could see he had brown skin, cornrow hair that went down into a small ponytail and was wearing leather armour coloured black with red accents. But there was no time to check further as me and my party ran in to help the group being attacked.

I decided against the judgment of my survival instincts to go after the big lion-dog thing. "Hey, Lassie come get some juicy bones." I taunted firing a gale of wind at it.

The creature snarled and rushed at me. I prepared my shield bracelet and it hit it with a thunk. I then used its own momentum and my winter strength to throw it away from the humans and right onto a goblin. While the goblin was out cold the creature was more angry than hurt and it charged at me again. Before the creature could try and gut me again, I aimed my staff at the ground and yelled "Geodas", which created a hole just where the animal was about to step. Its leg snapped with an ugly whine, and I took my staff and bashed it about the head once, twice, thrice and then there was blood on my staff and a dead lion-dog thing.

I checked the battle around me and saw it was not going well for the goblins. Lae'zel was backing up the human fighters at the gate, slicing up goblins with her greatsword. Gale and Shadowheart were fighting alongside the dark-skinned human, I saw flashes of light, force and lightning burn up the already bright day. Astarion had apparently snuck behind the rest of us as he was up on a hill next to two dead goblins firing his crossbows at the crowd. Within a few moments, the chaos was over and the horned people were opening the gates for us.

We walked through the gates to find a path that led to a large area, sheltered by a massive cave and separating paths up to guard positions on the gate. Zevlor came into focus wearing red and grey chainmail. His dark red skin burned with rage and his literal fiery eyes blazed as he walked up to Aradin, "There are children here you fool!"

"We was running for our lives," Aradin responded with equal parts rage and exhaustion

"You led them straight to us and you let them take the druid, too. Unbeliveable!"

"Shut it horns. I'd be lying dead with the goblins if you'd stalled any longer."

"My duty is to this camp." Zevlor said with quiet intensity

"God forbid you risk your precious tail but I shouldn't be surprised. Foulbloods aren't known for courage." Aradin spat with contempt.

I guessed that 'Foulblood' was a slur of some kind because Zevlor's blazing eyes grew to supernova levels as he clenched his fists.

"Woah, woah gentlemen you both have wounded to attend to. Let's not add any more to the healers list." I said placatingly, looking at Zevlor during the latter half of the sentence.

"Whatever, I'm getting my men out of here" Aradin said turning on his heels.

Zevlor visibly calmed himself down and said, "Thankyou, for that and for defending my people from the goblins. There would have been more dead if you hadn't. We don't have much but is there anything we can do to repay you."

"Actually yes, I need maps of the area if you can spare them and could you point me towards a healer if there are any?" I asked

"I have some extra maps of the area and our planned journey to Baldurs Gate which your welcome to. But as for the healer, you would have to ask the druids. If they let you near that is." Zevlor said annoyance and fear gripping his voice.

"Why would the druids not let me near?"

"Because they don't want any of us here. They think we're dangerous, leading the goblins to their door. We'd leave if we were able but goblins block the roads and we'd be slaughtered if we tried to fight them. Now they plan to set off some ritual to kick us out and block the grove off forever." Zevlor said visibly deflating with irritation and defeat.

"Hmm, well that's just not right I'll see if I can convince them to hold off on the ritual until you're ready to leave. They'll probably let me in seeing as I just saved their grove from goblin invasion."

"You'd do that? Truly? That would be most helpful and if you can there will be further rewards." Zevlor said with renewed vigour.

"It's a deal, I'm Harry Dresden by the way. Say, do you know a man by the name of Zorru? He has information that would help us in our journey." I asked holding my hand out for a shake

"Yes, he's a yellow tiefling, he's posted next to the blacksmiths. And I'm Zevlor." Zevlor responded accepting my hand.

Tieflings. Good, I'm pretty sure calling them 'horned people' might have been racist. Shaking off that thought I walked further into the camp and saw many different shades of tiefling. A group of three tieflings caught my eye, they were arguing.

"We can't just leave them their kin!" the female tiefling with light red skin snapped at a similarly toned male tiefling dressed in red and blue wizard robes.

"I'll not gamble our lives on strangers." The robed tiefling responded smugly

"What's the point of blades and spells if we don't bloody use them? These people aren't fighters we can help!" The female tiefling said irritation growing harder in her voice.

"Or yell louder, that's helps too." The third, male tiefling said sarcastically.

Similar skin tones, arguing like cats and dogs and one trying to protect the others. Family. Had to be.

"You should stay and help the others. If the goblins invade this place, they'll all die. You can help. And if nothing else you're going to need help getting out of this valley if the goblins are still around." I said pointing the second statement at the robed tiefling.

"Yes, thankyou! It's the right thing to do and you know it" The tiefling woman said directing her attention to the robed tiefling.

"She's right Roland" The third tiefling male agreed.

"Alright, fine I'll stay. Lest you two get your throats slit by goblin blades." Roland the robed tiefling said defeated.

Feeling pleased with myself I continued on into the camp and saw the dark-skinned human teaching a small tiefling boy how to fight with a blade. I waited until the lesson was done and went up to him.

Looking at him I noticed more of his features. His face marred by scars along his neck and left eye, which has been replaced by a stone replica.

"Can we talk?" I ask the man.

"Well met the Blade of Frontiers at your service…" Before he could finish the splitting pain in my head began again. Images flashed by. Racing through the hells chasing a diabolical figure. Red skin, single curled horn, blazing with flame bloodied great axe held high.

"Urgh. Hells great fires. You were on the ship."

"Yep, seems we both got caught and tadpoled by those squid freaks."

"Yes. You know the stories, doomed to become illithids. But we haven't sprouted any tentacles. Not yet anyway. Could be good luck, I'm not so…"

My mind burns again and more images come to my head. Wyll chasing the fiend with increased speed. She is an infernal war devil. A threat to the living. Evil incarnate.

"Shit, you saw her. Advocatus Diaboli."

"Who is she?" I asked rubbing the headache the second mind meld caused.

"Her name is Karlach. An archdevil's soldier I swore on my good eye to kill. I tracked her through the hells to the mindflayer 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 nothing behind but a trail of corpses."

"Let's join forces you help me find a cure and I'll help you hunt down this devil." I said with enthusiasm.

"I accept your invitation lets be about it." Wyll said

"You got it 'Blade of Frontiers'. By the way, I like your name, very Robin Hood."

"What's Robin Hood?" Wyll asked confused.

Damnit Harry, different universe. Pop culture references could actually get you killed if you use it on the wrong person. "It's a play. Yeah. It's about a nobleman who leaves his station to hunt for criminals and defend the weak with his bow and blade." I said with masterful tact.

"Hmm, I haven't seen it I'll have to look out for it."

After that near disaster, we continued further towards what looked like the blacksmiths and there we spotted Zorru the yellow tiefling standing guard. As Zorru looked at us he locked eyes with Lae'zel and it suddenly looked like he was fighting to not either void his bowls or run like the wind.

"It's one of you! Come to finish me off! Your kind gutted two of my friends on the way here!" Zorru said cowering and trying to reach for his blade at the same time.

"And they left you alive. Kin must have been in a hurry." Lae'zel said in a menacing tone that made the tiefling flinch and drop his weapon.

"In creche K'illr, it is protocol to greet superiors with a bow." The terrified Zorru bowed slightly in acceptance. "Lower" Lae'zel demanded.

I don't like bullies. I certainly hate when I'm being made one by proxy because my travelling companion wants to intimidate the local townsfolk. "That's enough Lae'zel" I snapped stepping between her and Zorru.

"It's okay we're not going to hurt you. We just need some information and we'll leave you be." I said with as much warmth and care as could put in my tone.

The tiefling straightened and looked at me confused, "Alright what do you want to know?"

"You saw a group of githyanki recently. Do you remember where?"

Zorru nodded, "Show me!" Lae'zel interrupted shoving a map in front of the tiefling. He drew a few directions on it and looked to me. I nodded and he left quickly.

Lae'zel rolled up the map and put it away glaring daggers at me, "If any other servant insulted me like that I'd rip out their tongue and have it for supper."

"Well then it's a good thing I'm not your servant and if you decide to intimidate or harm any other innocent people you and me are going to have words. Supposed githyanki cure or not got it?!" I snarled at her whilst avoiding looking into her eyes. I'd seen enough of Lae'zels mind. I did not want a soul gaze with her.

Lae'zel tensed for a moment, then visibly calmed herself down and said with clenched teeth, "Understood wizard. Let us continue before I change my mind and eat your tongue anyway."

Before I could come up with a witty response to that I heard a muffled yell from across the path and behind a wooden door. Being a professional investigator and a compulsive busybody, I course went to see what that was about.

Going inside I saw two tieflings and a goblin trapped in a cage. The goblin looked female and was bruised all on one side, this must have been the one I threw the beast onto. One of the tieflings, a woman, was pointing a crossbow at the goblin, "You better shoot tiefling before you lose your nerve."

"Shut up!" The tiefling woman screamed at the goblin

"She didn't kill your brother, this isn't right!" a tiefling man pleaded.

The winter mantle reared its ugly head. Compelled me to stay put and watch the violence. I shook it off with a wince and stepped in front of the cage and the crossbow.

"What are you doing? You wanna die?" the tiefling woman snapped at me

"This goblin is a prisoner. It would be wrong to just execute her and she could have information that could be useful."

"Don't know the difference the bars make and I doubt that one has any information worth telling." The tiefling woman said anger still burning her words.

"The difference is she can't fight back. Killing her won't make you feel any better. It'll only blacken your own soul." I pleaded and as I did, I saw Shadowheart give me an approving nod followed by a pulsing purple flash on her left hand. She winced in great pain and quickly moved her hand behind her back.

I tried to keep the shock out of my face as I stared down the tielfing woman, "Gods dammit, fine!" she bellowed as she threw the crossbow to the ground. She stomped out of the room. The tiefling man gave me a thankful nod as he hurried to follow. Then I turned to the goblin woman.

"Don't know why you did that. I'm not telling you nothing." The goblin said

"You should, that's the second time I've saved your life. If I hadn't thrown that beast on you would've been slaughtered with the rest of your band." I countered

The goblin considered that for a moment, "You get me out of here and I'll tell you how to get to our camp. Join up with us, we got numbers and the Absolute on our side." The goblin woman said with a fanatical edge to the words.

"What's the Absolute?" I asked

"Our god but I'm not telling you anything about her till you join."

"Fine tell me how to get to your camp and I'll give you the means to break free. You've my word."

The goblin's face lit up, "Great, now our camp is just past this old broken village, to the left you'll see an old temple, we're set up there. Talk to Dor Ragzlin to join up he's a big red hobgoblin, can't miss him. If you want to know about the Absolute you wanna talk to Priestess Gut, she's one of her chosen, a True Soul. Now let me out of here!"

"You got it" I said producing a lockpick from my duster pocket. Before I handed it to the goblin I used the energy the winter mantle produced to freeze the metal until it shattered into useless pieces at the goblin's feet.

"What the hell!" the goblin exclaimed

"I promised to give you means to escape. I didn't say it would be effective. Bye-bye now." I said with a wave as I left the prison with my party, Gale giggling at my little trick.

Shadowheart stopped me outside the door, "I know what you're going to ask so we might as well get it out of the way. You want to know why I was in pain before."

"Yeah your hand just flared up and you winced, what's wrong?" I asked with genuine concern.

"It's just something I must deal with. It has nothing to do with the tadpoles I swear."

"How badly does it hurt? Can I help?"

"Quite a lot actually. And you're sweet to ask. Maybe just be patient with me if you see it flare up again. Shadowheart said with a light smile.

"Alright," I said touching her arm lightly.

"We should probably get moving, you've already taken up enough time talking to the locals," Astarion said interrupting the moment.

I scowled at him, and he grinned pleased with himself. But he was right, and I continued further into the grove.

Moving to what had to be the entrance to the grove proper due to the prevalence of grass and plant life beyond the stone archway, which was currently being populated by a group of tieflings arguing with the druids, "Give me back my daughter ragmashem." A tiefling woman with grey skin spat

"Your daughter is being held for stealing our sacred idol. Now go back." A female druid warned

"I don't care let her go now!" As the tiefling woman screamed this, a druid man roared a challenge and turned into a bear continuing the roar. The tieflings quickly dispersed.

Daughter being held captive, threatening to kick out defenceless refugees. I was beginning to really dislike these apparent champions of nature. I walked up to the group of druids.

"Like we told the others you're not allowed in"

"You'd all be seasoning in a goblin stew if not for me. Let me in." I said with increased annoyance.

The female druid looked like she was about to do something when another male druid, who was about a third her size said, "Wait Kahga might want to speak to this one."

"Fine come through but cause trouble and your food for our plants."

"Wouldn't dream of it." I said smugly as I walked past them shoulder checking the female druid on the way. After walking through the archway, I saw the clearing that encompassed the grove proper. It was beautiful, covered in plant life and flowers, trees grew in almost every direction and the smell of pine and grass radiated through the air. In the middle of the clearing was an altar that held a wooden figure, which a group of druids were chanting around pushing their magical power into through green tendrils. This must be the ritual Zevlor mentioned. A few paces next to this was something stranger than that, a man dressed in what looked like a blue and brown jester outfit and a poofy scholar hat, talking and taking notes from a bear.

I walked up to the strange man, he turned around, apparently done taking notes from the bear and said, "Ah my friend, you were at the gates just now, no? When the goblins came? You saw them up close?"

"Yep, saw them and smelt them, urgh, not an experience I relish but it is what it is," I responded with slight disgust.

"A few questions if you please. There's no overstating my interest."

I nodded for him to continue, he perked up with excitement, "Now then how would you describe this batch of goblins any distinguishing features, size or qualities?"

"A classic raid gang, complete with lasher and smattering booyahgs." Gale responded when he saw I had no idea how to answer that question.

"My, a scholar after my own heart. Spent much time around goblins?"

"Hardly, but my library back in Waterdeep has many volumes on goblin anatomy and group structures." Gale answered proudly.

"Certainly, I'm more of a man of the world myself, but I have more questions."

I nodded at him to continue, "The dragon they had in the rear was it brass or silver?"

I recalled no dragon. Hell, the only animal on the field was that dog-lion thing I killed. But I decided to indulge the bard, "No the dragon was pitch black and it breathed green fire. It was truly maleficent, barely made it out of there."

"Subject mistook silver dragon for black." The bard muttered to himself writing down more notes.

"Right, now did the goblins rally for the 'Absolute' when they fell upon the gates."

"Yeah, and the goblin prisoner also mentioned a camp of goblins who worship this Absolute." I said now curious what this man knew.

"Fascinating, I also have reports saying the local goblins have abandoned their usual god Maglubiyet for this Absolute. Ever since joining this god, the goblins have moved with strategy anathema to their kind. I am preparing to go to their camp and get to the bottom of it."

"That seems rather dangerous. Maybe you should stay out of murderous goblin habitats, for the safety of your future works." I said trying to sound concerned for the future of whatever studies he indulged in.

"Don't worry about me. There's nothing a few cultured words from Volothamp Geddarmand and an emergency invisibility potion can't solve." And just like that he was off in the other direction towards what I hoped was not certain doom.

Considering the unfolding events with the goblins and the Absolute, along with the tense looks I was getting from everyone in the grove I decided to open up my magical senses to check for any magical traps or surprises. I felt the radiant magic of nature that poured off every plant, flower and tree in this place. This magic funnelled through the druids and then a portion of it was directed towards the idol, whose power grew stronger and more potent. Sifting through that, I sensed something different, something alluring but hollower than the power of nature, somehow more corrupted in intent.

I decided to follow the power, which radiated to the right of the clearing. It led me down to a small beach side where I heard the source of the magic, "Is that singing?" Lae'zel asked

"It's beautiful" Wyll responded

Reaching the end of the clearing I saw a small tiefling boy standing entranced by the water. He had red skin, and his small horns were mostly hidden by his curly hair.

"Hey kid, it's not safe here you should go back to the others," I said trying to block out the magical music.

The boys' eyes glowed an unnatural purple as he said, "I'm just listening to the music. It's so peaceful." I faltered and focused more on the music. He was right it was so peaceful. So welcoming. I just to get a little clos… no! I brought up my mental defences before the magic could compel me forward and I saw the source of it. Four humanoid women with birdlike features on their heads and hands and large wings. One of them sat high on a rock singing the luring song. Harpies, or this world's equivalent. As I noticed them, I also saw the boy moving closer to the creatures, along with Lae'zel, Wyll and Astarion.

"Shit, we need to get them out of there." I snapped.

"I have a spell that can protect people from blows. But it only works if they don't do violent action and only works on one person at a time." Shadowheart added.

"Alright use it on the boy and I'll take care of songbird over there," I said, focusing my attention on the main harpy.

Shadowheart put her hand out, said a word and a golden light shone around the boy for a second. I focused my staff on the singing harpy. I've used this spell once before on a much larger and scarier target than this, so it should work. I pushed my will into the staff and yelled "Laqueus". A cord of pure force wrapped around the harpies throat, cutting off her air and thus her singing voice. The boy shivered slightly and looked around the area terrified. "Run now!" I screamed at the boy, and he responded with vigour and haste. The harpies he passed stood there frustrated by the fact they couldn't even raise a claw against him.

Unfortunately, this was not the case for my companions. One harpy slashed at Lae'zel and landed a hit on her right arm, blood sprang from the wound and Lae'zel grunted in pain and fury. The other two ganged up on Astarion and began to slash at him. I pulled out my blasting rod and aimed it at one of the harpies on the elf as I saw Wyll begin to aim his hand at the other. We both blasted our spells at them, mine burning the harpy on the left and his blasting the other onto the harpy attacking Lae'zel, who made short work of both monsters cutting their throats before either could begin their song again. Astarion got up slowly, he had slash wounds on his upper chest and stomach. Shadowheart took care of that with haste, directing her golden hands towards the elf and closing wounds to the point that there was very little of a scar to be seen.

"Bloody harpies. I knew my dislike of birds and cheap singers was justified." Astarion whined wiping the blood off his tunic.

Shadowheart healed Lae'zel too but there was more scowling and name calling on her part. Ignoring her, I went to see the tiefling boy who was hiding behind a rock not far from the beach. "You okay?" I asked gently as I lowered myself to his eye level."

"Yes, no. I was just sneaking about the druid's place trying to find stuff to snatch then there was the music and then… Thanks sir. You should see Mol she'd reward you for helping me." The boy said trying to hold back tears.

"I'm sure she will, now run along back to the others. You've run into enough trouble for today." He apparently agreed as he ran like the wind as soon as I finished.

After getting our bearings we made our way back to the clearing and towards a large stone door that opened upwards, glowing from runes carved in its surface. Entering the room, I saw that it was also quite lovely. Patches of grass and vines covered the floor and walls of the cave-like structure and naturally occurring gaps in the cave were used as rooms. In the middle of the area was a far less flattering sight, a dark-skinned tiefling child terrified and being held still by a brown serpent hissing behind her. Two druids were arguing next to the child, one human man with dark skin and a horned helm and a light-skinned elf with amber hair that was done in a bun.

"Please I'm sorry." The tiefling child pleaded

"This is madness Kagha." The dark-skinned man said, "She's just a.."

"A what Rath? A theft? A poison? A threat?" The amber haired elf said with fanatical intensity

"I will imprison the devil, and then I will cast out every stranger"

"You will do no such thing, what is this child's actual crime? Or are you throwing her to the viper just because her kind is an inconvenience to you?" I snapped with barely contained fury.

"This devil eats our food, drinks our water and steals our most sacred idol in thanks. She will be imprisoned, and you will be silent unless you wish to taste Teela's sting." The viper hissed at the mention of its name.

"Rath, take her below." Rath looked like he swallowed a gallon of acid, but he went to seize the child. The child screamed and ran out of the druids' arms but that was when the viper moved to attack. I ran as fast as my legs and the winter mantle allowed and tackled the girl shielding her body from Teela's fangs. I felt the vipers' bites as slight bumps on my spell-shielded duster. I rooted around in my duster turned to face the snake and fired my Smith and Wesson right into its open jaws. The pistol boomed in a torrent of sound and the viper's head exploded in a wash of blood and brains. I then got up, pushed the girl behind me and aimed the weapon at the snake's master.

"Make a single move towards the girl and I'll show you just how effective this here hand cannon is at exploding human-sized heads." I snarled at Kahga

The room grew silent for a moment. No one knew how to respond to the new sound they just heard. Safe to say this universe doesn't have guns yet then.

"Do that stranger and every druid in this grove will rip you apart before you reach the archway," Kahga said, anger barely masking the fear I knew was there.

"Maybe, but you'll die first. Before your precious ritual can be completed. And I don't plan on going down without a fight and I doubt my friends here will either. How many of your people are you willing to sacrifice for one thief." I said staring daggers at Kagha, getting ready for the shot and firefight that would occur afterwards.

My companion's response to this apparent suicide run I roped them into varied slightly. Wyll and Gale both pulled out their weapons, determined as I was to fight our way out. Lae'zel and Astarion also drew their weapons but they looked at me in a very clear silent 'What the hell Harry' look. Shadowheart was strangest though, she just stood still. Petrified with fear. But, following her gaze it wasn't the situation she was afraid of. It was the wolf next to Rath, snarling at me.

"Stop this Kahga. This not how Halsin would act, if you continue, they may kill us all!" Rath pleaded.

Kahga scowled at the name Halsin but said nothing, "Who's Halsin?" I asked not taking my eyes off Kahga.

"He's the actual Arch-druid of this grove. He went with the band of mercenaries in search of the source of some recent illithid infections. He hasn't returned so he's likely been captured by the goblins."

In search of the source of the infections? This could be just the man I need to talk to. I struggled to keep up my poker face as I said, "I see. How about this Kahga, I go and find Halsin. I bring him back here and then we see how this: 'imprisoning children and banishing refugees' policy aligns with the Grove's values. If you're lucky I die in the attempt, but either way the girl is going back to her parents. Either agree or we settle things right here, right now."

Kahga considered that for a moment and scowled, "Very well, take the devil and begone."

I nodded and began to slowly walk towards the exit. Never turning my back and not lowering my gun until we were back at the archway.