A druid, a warlock, a dwarf, a tiefling, and a boar run into some trouble on the road, and the druid is very surprised by who comes to their rescue.

***

"You know, I never asked," Neeshka suddenly turned on her heel, walking backwards to watch her three traveling companions. "How did you meet Khelgar?"

"We were still in the swamps," Connor answered, smiling as he watched Neeshka expertly avoid branches and stones. "Savannah and I planned to stop at the Weeping Willow Inn – "

"And there was our favorite dwarf in the middle of a tavern brawl," Savannah grinned.

Khelgar snorted. "Yeah, and then you had duergar and bladelings storming the inn for you."

"Really?" Neeshka's eyebrows shot up in interest. "Why are they after you?"

Savannah launched into the tale of the attack on West Harbor, and Connor smiled, letting his sister regal Neeshka about what occurred. He instead turned to Khelgar, who was watching the two girls with amusement. "What do you think, Khelgar?" he asked. "She isn't too bad, is she?"

Khelgar hummed thoughtfully. "I suppose she has her uses."

Connor rolled his eyes fondly. "What kind of people would we be if we had left her on the side of the road to be killed by those poor excuses of Greycloaks?"

Khelgar grumbled, and he must have said something, but Connor was distracted when he heard the faint sound of a twig snapping nearby. He turned around sharply, narrowing his eyes. He didn't hear another snap, so he did turn back to Khelgar when the dwarf nudged him. "Lad?"

"I apologize, Khelgar," he frowned, scratching his hand. "I thought I heard something."

"Mmm," Khelgar nodded. "Yeh can go mad if yeh stay on the road for too long, lad. How far until Highcliff?"

"Er," Connor eyed his map. "By the looks of this, I would say two, no more than three – " A rock tumbled out of the foliage, and Connor immediately reached for his scimitar, spinning around. This time, Vhaera rumbled suspiciously, pawing at the ground. "Weapons," Connor warned.

Khelgar immediately hefted his axe into his hands, and as Neeshka drew her daggers, one of the very creatures Savannah had just been describing slunk into the middle of the path, two duergar flanking it. "No place to run this time, Kalach-Cha," the bladeling hissed; out of the corner of his eye, he saw Neeshka turn around to see three other duergar behind them. "That which you have stolen . . . hand it over, and we will let you live."

Khelgar groaned. "This is getting tiresome, lad. What's so important about that blasted thing that has them chasing us all over Faerûn?"

Connor's free hand ghosted over the silk-wrapped bundle on his belt. "I wish I knew," he said grimly, hand tightening on the pommel of his scimitar.

"Eh, take your time," Khelgar eyed his grey-skinned counterparts. "At least the fights come to us."

"Hand the shard over now, or we will take it from your corpse," the bladeling ordered.

Connor's hand tightened around the hilt of his scimitar. "And we were just getting to know each other."

"Fool!" the bladeling spat, brandishing its longsword. "I shall enjoy killing you!"

Khelgar growled, ready to run forward, when Connor felt it: tremors under the ground, barely noticeable unless you trained to be one with the land. And when thick, thorny roots rose from the ground and tangled around the feet and up the legs of the duergar, Connor was the only one who didn't sound surprised. "Connor?" Savannah asked nervously.

"It's not me," he shook his head.

"Fight, you pathetic thralls!" the bladeling roared. "Kill them all!" The two duergar with it tried to hack at the roots, but one shouted in pain when the thorns dug into his side. The other duergar looked at the bladeling doubtfully. "Why are you still looking at me?! Attack!"

"Well, if he's asking for it!" Savannah launched a shuriken past Connor, and it whistled into the throat of the crossbow-wielding duergar behind the bladeling.

Neeshka leapt into action, launching over the duergar behind her, slitting his throat ear to ear as she did. Khelgar ran for the bladeling, his axe a blur of motion as he swung with so much power he shattered the bladeling's sword. Connor's scimitar met another duergar's morningstar, but his head whipped around when he heard one duergar's voice chant a favorite spell of Tarmas's. His eyes widened when he saw the purple missiles fly towards him, and he was thrown away from the duergar, landing on the ground with an impact that made the wind get knocked out of him. "Connor!" Neeshka cried.

Vhaera squealed in anger as the duergar above Connor raised his morningstar, but a ferocious snarl above Connor made both look up. A blur of black and white jumped over Connor's head and onto the duergar's chest, and he thrashed about, trying to throw off the badger, of all creatures, that had its jaw locked around the duergar's neck. Then the curved blade of a sickle sheared the grey dwarf almost in half, the badger scampering off to attack one of the duergar aiming his crossbow at Khelgar's back.

Connor grimaced, slowly getting to one knee. Vhaera immediately trotted over to him, nosing him over and over. He checked himself over, noticing the burn marks on the chainlinks where the missiles hit him, and when he pressed a hand over the marks, he winced, feeling where he had been bruised. "I'm all right, girl," he rubbed a hand over Vhaera's head. "I'm all right."

As Neeshka gutted the last of the duergar, a slender hand extended to Connor, and grateful for the assistance, he took the hand, surprised by the hidden strength the person who helped him up. With one last pat of Vhaera's hand, he looked up at their savior. Emerald green met earth brown, and Connor realized the slender woman in front of him was a wood elf just like his foster father. She wasn't armored; all she wore were soft robes of neutral browns, greens, and violets, the hem dirty and worn. Her sickle was held loosely in her free hand, enough that Connor could tell while she knew how to wield it, she would much rather not have a weapon in her hand. Her tangled hair was the color of mahogany trees . . . and around her neck was an amulet engraved with an oak leaf. That, added to the colors of her robes, the badger scurrying to her feet, and the spell she had cast, made him know exactly who she was. The oak leaf was the symbol of Silvanus, the god worshiped by wood elves . . . and druids.

"You walk a strange path for a Harborman," the elf said quietly as the adventurers regrouped; she eyed one of the duergar in distaste. "Apparently, I'm not the only one who has a problem with it." She sighed, running a hand through her hair and messing it up even further, though she didn't appear to mind. "Forgive me, but I saw these . . . things . . . about to attack you. I found I could not simply stand by while you were ambushed again." Again? Connor's head shot up at the admission; judging by how Savannah's eyes narrowed, she had caught it, too. "I'd like to help, if I could," the elf continued. "I've been trying to follow you without interfering, but I don't think you'll reach your destination without someone who knows the land."

Savannah eyed the elf up and down. "Who are you?" she asked suspiciously.

"Yeah, maybe you'd better tell us who you are," Neeshka chimed in, red eyes narrowed. "And there's others of us here, too, if you can take your eyes off our leader long enough to notice!"

The elf raised an eyebrow coolly, not rising to the tiefling's challenge. "I am Elanee," she answered. "And rather than shadow you, I would walk with you."

Neeshka scoffed. "We're doing fine, thanks. And maybe you'd like to explain why you were following us in the first place."

"I'd like to know that as well," Khelgar grunted. "Tree-worshippers tend to keep to themselves, and don't pay much mind to travelers who take the roads."

A burst of anger flared in Connor's chest, and he glared at his dwarf friend. Before he could say a word, though, Elanee snapped, "I think you will find 'tree-worshippers' a rare thing these days, dwarf, so do not use that word lightly!"

"Apparently not rare enough, to have you come out of nowhere after following us for hells knows why!" Neeshka countered.

"Would the two of you please let me do the talking?" Connor exploded, making Vhaera take a step back. "And do remember she is not the only 'tree-worshipper' among us!"

Neeshka's cheeks flushed, and she bit her lip as she ducked her head. Khelgar sighed, shoulders slumping. "Apologies, lad," he muttered.

"Sorry, Connor," Neeshka whispered.

Connor sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, wincing when the action made his chest flare in pain. "I'm sorry for shouting," he muttered. "If there were more of those creatures around . . . " He shook his head, then turned back to Elanee. "It's good to see a fellow druid on the roads," he told her.

A small smile formed on her face. "And it is good to meet you as well," she nodded. "Another druid is a rare thing on these roads, and I had begun to fear that all had vanished. It's a strange circle of who follows who on this road. At first, I was following those who attacked you. But they seem to be following you, which leads me to believe that there's something you have, something they want, so . . . " She straightened to her full height, which was just past his shoulders. "I thought that perhaps my enemy's enemies would at least welcome some company to their destination, and with my help, even get there faster."

Connor's curiosity was piqued. "Faster?" he echoed. "How?"

"Well, I come bearing a gift, not just words," Elanee answered. "I know of a quicker path to Highcliff, and one that will hide your trail as well. There is a druid sanctuary not far from here: the Maiden's Glade, where members of my Circle would go for refuge when traveling the land. I can lead you there, and with no further attacks from these hunters of yours. Not that you can't handle yourself, but I am sure you're growing as tired of these attacks as I am."

"I am growing tired of you being hurt by these blade beings," Vhaera gave her opinion.

Connor snorted softly. "Yeah, me, too," he mumbled to her, missing the amusement in Elanee's eyes. "You're not wrong," he added to her. "Have you learned anything about these attackers?" he gestured to the corpses.

"Little," Elanee admitted. "They are not of the land, that is for certain. They've a strange smell about them, and their speech is like nothing I've heard before. Unless they are speaking to their thralls, it is impossible to make out. But they keep calling you 'Kalach-Cha' . . . do you know what that means?"

Connor shook his head in disappointment. "That was my next question to you."

Elanee sighed. "Then it looks like when it comes to answers, we have little to offer one another. A pity."

Connor's decision had been made up when he saw the symbol of Silvanus around her neck, but he was rock solid in it now. "We would welcome your company."

Elanee smiled as Neeshka started. "Very well," she nodded. "I would be glad to accompany you."

"What?" Neeshka sputtered. "We're taking her along? Why?"

Elanee arched an eyebrow. "Is there some sort of problem?"

"I'll say," Neeshka scowled. "You're still talking, and you're acting like you're coming with us. That's the problem."

"Neeshka," Savannah said quietly. "Do you know how few druids there are nowadays? At the High Harvest Fair, the man in charge of our crops, Orlen, said there were no druids to be seen for acres. That's not good, and very worrying."

"And if we're hidden on the road from more of these things," Connor carefully pressed against his ribs, cringing as he did, "that means there's a better chance we're not going to be hurt."

Neeshka deflated. "Fine," she muttered. "For you, Connor . . . but I'm going to keep my eye on her."

Khelgar grunted. "First the demon, now this willow-thin slip of an elf? Might as well invite all the realms, lad, and make a grand army, tromping through the wilderness. 'Enemies, come and get us! Here we are!'"

It cheered Neeshka up, the girl giggling as Savannah smirked. Elanee just rolled her eyes. "We will not be tromping through the wilderness. We will be weaving through it like the wind."

"And speaking of the wind, shut your mouth, Khelgar, before your breath summons more of those creatures," Neeshka added, making Savannah cackle. "Besides, look at it my way – wouldn't you rather have our new friend right here where we can see her, rather than behind us the whole way?"

If Elanee was hurt by Neeshka's words, she didn't show it. "Fine," she slid her sickle into the rope acting like a belt. "Let's be off. Judging by the sun and trail, you were headed to Neverwinter, correct?"

"Yes," Connor nodded, looking through his pack and finding a healing potion. "We need to reach our Uncle Duncan in the city. He may have knowledge on a shard we possess."

"A shard?" Elanee echoed, her eyes lowering to the bundle in his belt. "Ah, so that would be the silk-wrapped bundle in your pack. It sounds like that is what those creatures are looking for."

"Yes, but we don't know why."

"Hmm," Elanee scratched the back of her head thoughtfully. "Well, if they seek it, then let us do what we can to keep it from them. Regardless, I appreciate your trust in telling me. Thank you." Connor nodded as he uncorked the vial and downed the potion. "Let's be on our way. Follow me. The Maiden's Glade is not far."

***

Druids were complicated things, Connor mused as he followed Elanee closely along paths he never would have seen unless he concentrated extremely hard. He was in touch with the land, absolutely, but without any druids native to West Harbor, he was slow in his learning. Elanee, on the other hand, appeared young at first, but as an elf, she could be decades older than him. Her animal companion Naloch, the badger who had saved him earlier, trotted ahead, sniffing along the path, occasionally examining Vhaera curiously. His boar didn't seem to know what to make of the badger, so she tolerated the badger's presence.

Savannah, while she didn't appear pleased with where they walked, kept her mouth shut. His twin knew the value of having a druid who knew the land with them, and while Connor could guide them around West Harbor, Elanee walked with such confidence, she clearly knew where she was walking. Neeshka and Khelgar, on the other hand, had yet to complain.

At least until Neeshka griped when a tree branch almost smacked her in the head. "This is a long way from the road," she said. "Are you sure you know where you're going?"

"Agreed," Khelgar nodded. "How much farther is this place?"

Elanee smirked. "Not far, for we are already here." She stopped at the edge of a clearing through the trees, and Connor smiled, seeing the grassy plains with gentle hills and arrangements of shrubs ahead. "This is Eridis," she gestured. "The Maiden's Glade, in the tongue of Harbormen."

"That sounds elvish," Savannah frowned. "Or . . . Illefarn?"

Elanee eyed her, nodding approvingly. "You are correct," she said. "You surprise me. Just as the Mere of Dead Men was once Merdelain, the Slow-Marching Court, this place also had a name long before settlers from Neverwinter set foot here."

"Did they ever set foot here?" Neeshka scowled. "I can barely see where we're going!"

"Trust me, it's no better at my height, either," Khelgar told her. "Sure as the hells couldn't find my way back to the road now."

Elanee smirked. "The road to the Maiden's Glade is hidden, known only to the beasts of the land, and those whom the beasts call kin." The subtle dig made Connor cough to hide a laugh; Savannah didn't bother stifling a giggle. "Take note of where I step should you need to walk this path again. The glade up ahead was a retreat for druids, a place of shelter if they needed to heal or rest. Many such places exist along the coast. The animals here would protect the druids, and they will shield you from your pursuers, if they should find you."

She faltered when Naloch abruptly growled, the fur on his back standing on end. Connor immediately reached for his scimitar as Neeshka gulped. "Uh . . . you mean those animals?"

Elanee spun around just as three wolves raced out of the foliage, teeth bared in snarls. She stumbled backwards, working to draw her sickle as Connor stood in front of her protectively. "Vhaera!" he shouted.

The boar threw itself in the path of the approaching wolves, her tusks cutting through one's belly. Savannah conjured a spear of her magic and threw it expertly, killing the second wolf. Khelgar buried his axe in the last one as Naloch clawed at its back. Elanee looked as though she had taken a hit in the head as she slowly walked over to the wolves, crouching down to examine them. "The animals here are frightened," she gulped. "And I know not why. There is usually at least one druid in the glade, and they should be aware of the beasts, and us."

Neeshka snorted. "Well, I say we avoid any wolves or anything trying to kill us."

"I say we fight them," Khelgar offered his opinion. "They attack us, we attack them. 'Sides, could use new boots."

"Khelgar!" Savannah punched him in the arm.

Connor shook his head. "I don't want to kill if we can avoid it. Not animals."

"I would prefer that, yes," Elanee agreed.

***

Unfortunately, neither Connor nor Elanee got their wish. Every path the elf took them down, wolves or boars or badgers charged them, teeth bared to attack. With every dead animal, the dread Connor felt grew. Khelgar and Neeshka seemed to pick up on it, and neither complained about killing the animals when the druids hesitated.

The first animals they saw that didn't attack them were four very bloody, very torn-apart, very dead wolves in an open clearing. Connor's heart dropped into the pit of his stomach, and he swayed on his feet, Savannah quickly grabbing his arm to keep him upright. Elanee sank to her knees by the wolves, eyes filling with tears. "These wolves," she whispered hoarsely. "They were slaughtered, and not for food, but out of bloodlust. Is this why the animals attacked us?" She buried her face in her hands, taking a deep breath. "Whatever is wrong must be here in the glade," she mumbled. "I had thought the Circle of the Mere would be aware of any disturbance here, but now it seems the task must fall to us."

Neeshka sighed, rubbing her forehead. "A druid thing?" she grumbled.

"I feel it, too," Connor sighed. "Something's wrong here, and we need to find out what."

Elanee nodded, rising to her feet. "Thank you, Connor," she whispered. "I would hate for whatever pursues us to be at our back."

As if towering badgers weren't enough, Connor rounded one of the cliff faces and found himself face to face with an enormous brown bear that looked like it was frothing at the mouth. Connor immediately had to duck into a crouch and roll away from the charging bear, his ribs protesting the movement. Khelgar's axe cut into one of the bear's legs, but the dwarf was patted away by a huge paw. Neeshka danced away, a panicked look on her face as she tried to find where to do the most damage. Savannah worked to summon her magic, red violet magic swirling around her fingers, but when the bear barreled towards her, she lost her concentration, trying to get away from the bear's claws. Connor grabbed his sister and yanked her to the ground, the bear skidding in the dirt when his prey was no longer in sight. He growled and turned around, pawing at the ground before charging the siblings. Connor pushed Savannah behind him, his mind thinking through every spell that might slow the bear down.

The same spell he had used in the crypts was chanted behind him, and the bear ran right into spikes, his paws punctured immediately. When the bear roared and tried to tear himself free, he lost his balance and tumbled into the spikes, his blood pouring out along the ground. His beady black eyes widened in pain, harsh pants coming from his mouth. Connor stared in horror at the bloody mess, even as Elanee approached, the other druid looking sick to her stomach. Elanee, a druid of the Mere, sworn to protect the glade . . . and she had killed the bear to save him and Savannah.

But all of them were shocked when the bear rolled his head, and when he saw Elanee, there was a spark of . . . recognition? "Elanee," he rasped in man's tongue, and Khelgar sputtered in surprise behind them. "You are . . . here . . . "

Elanee dropped to her knees, eyes wide. "Kaleil?" she gasped.

"I . . . " the bear gasped. "I . . . came here . . . came here to try and find you, Elanee, to try and escape the Mere . . . to seek refuge here . . . "

"The Mere?" Elanee asked frantically, Connor scrambling to reach the druid's side . . . for it was a druid, one trapped in animal form. "What is wrong?"

"The Mere," Kaleil said hoarsely. "It speaks with a different voice now . . . and its waters, once clear to the Circle, are now dark . . . and run deep, so deep."

"What do you mean?" Elanee touched his head with trembling fingers. "Where are the others, the rest of the Circle?"

Kaleil took a deep breath that caught in his chest. "Vashne and the others . . . they are lost. Only you remain. I thought I could find you, or Naevan . . . but what claims the Mere overtook me, clouded my vision with shadows and blood, trapped me in this form." He took a sharp breath, eyes clearing as he focused on Elanee. "Do not return to the Mere, Elanee," he ordered. "Do not, or you shall fall to its corruption as I did."

Kaleil shuddered under Connor's hands, then became still. He closed his eyes in defeat, slowly stepping away from the body of the shapechanged druid. Khelgar and Neeshka were thankfully silent as he made his way to Elanee, who was staring at Kaleil, looking as though she had taken a sword in the gut. "I . . . " She stammered. "Kaleil, he's . . . dead . . . "

"I'm sorry, Elanee," Connor whispered, crouching next to her, placing a hesitant hand on her shoulder.

She took a shuddering breath, putting her face in her hands. "It was he that caused such unrest here," she said miserably. "And why the animals attacked us."

"What was he saying about the Mere?" Connor asked, looking back at Kaleil.

"I don't know," Elanee shook her head. "I . . . I have been away from the Circle for some time." She put her hands down, swallowing and focusing on Connor. "Kaleil and I are part . . . were part . . . of the Circle of Merdelain, the Mere of Dead Men. If the elders, if Vashne is lost . . . if Naevan is lost . . . " She shook her head mournfully. "I have been away too long. But this would explain why I could not feel the Circle any longer, and as for the land . . . " She shook herself, and the emotion was wiped from her face. "But we should press on," she stood. "I promised to lead you to Highcliff, and to safety, and so far, this path has proved longer than I wished." She hesitated, then laid a hand on Kaleil's head. "Farewell, Kaleil," she whispered. "May you rest . . . and may the Glade become peaceful again."

Connor put a hand on Kaleil's shoulder. "I don't know much about druidic traditions because I grew up in a Harbor village," he said hesitantly. "But he deserves a funeral."

Elanee's mask broke again, and she nodded jerkily. Neither Neeskha nor Khelgar voiced any complaints as they joined Savannah in stepping forward to help.

***

Meet Elanee, a wood elf druid who waxes poetics about the land and animals while also, if you don't agree with her, can be a bit whiny and annoying. She's one of my favorite characters, though, so that's never been a problem.

Next up, the adventurers arrive in Highcliff. Can you believe they're still nowhere close to Neverwinter?

graphic by marvelity