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The Circle of the Emerald Grove is a druidic circle located between Elturel and Baldur's Gate, by the river Chionthar.
Background
The Circle of the Emerald Grove is a long-lasting[1] druidic circle based in their namesake Emerald Grove, a place considered sacred by its local druid population. Home to multiple druids and a variety of animal companions, the circle worked to protect the balance of nature in its local environs.
Involvement
Act One
| “ | By claw and tooth, from root to thorn, |
„ |
| — Inner Sanctum Plaque |
The party's first encounter with the Emerald Grove comes in the form of a small goblin raid on its ramparts. Pursued by a small raiding party composed of Za'krug, several goblin raiders, and a bugbear, the remnants of a group of adventurers led by Aradin attempts to find refuge behind the grove's walls but are shut out by a tiefling guard.
There, it is established that the Emerald Grove has taken in tiefling refugees from Elturel, sheltering them in the Hollow. Further interactions with a local druid trader, Arron, druid guards led by Jeorna, and some tieflings such as Zevlor, reveal that there is animosity between the members of the Circle and the refugees. In the Inner Sanctum, archdruid Kagha is seen presiding over a trial about Arabella's attempted thievery of their sacred 
idol.
No matter how the trial ends, Kagha will tell the party that the tiefling refugees have endangered the Circle due to their presence. Kagha demands that the party make the refugees leave by 
out west, under the threat that the circle will otherwise eliminate the tieflings, and undertake the Rite of Thorns that permanently close the grove off from the outside world. While most druids stand by Kagha's decision, or agree with her out of desperation despite their reservations, some others like Apikusis and Rath hope to prevent the grove from being sealed or disagree with her vision. Rath reveals to the party that Kagha is only the acting archdruid, and that archdruid Halsin had ventured out west with the adventurers towards the Goblin Camp. Rath will ask the party to , and so will Halsin's apprentice Nettie should her aid in removing the Mind Flayer Tadpole be asked for.
At this point in time, the party can convince Zevlor to attack the Circle of the Emerald Grove, taking over the grove and buying time for the refugees. Alternatively, the druids can attack the tieflings and party on their own should the party attempt to from the Sacred Pool.
However, should the party and discover a hidden chest in the Inner Sanctum, follow the contents' clue to a tree trunk in the Putrid Bog, a 
Letter to Kagha reveals that the Circle has been infiltrated by Shadow Druids and influenced by their anti-societal dogma. The party can then expose Kagha back at the grove, which will unmask the rats in the sanctum to actually be shadow druids Olodan, Wren, and Pinta. Kagha can then be killed, or persuaded to abandon the shadow druids in the ensuing fight. In either case, should they survive, Kagha or Rath will stop the Rite of Thorns and let the tieflings stay — should the party leader be a druid, they will be made Faithwarden.
In the goblin camp, Halsin can be found in the Worg Pens wildshaped as a bear. Saving him and eliminating the camp's leadership will allow the tieflings to leave the Emerald Grove, the Circle of the Emerald Grove to cancel the Rite of Thorns (if it hasn't been cancelled before), and Kagha to be demoted to a novice. Alternatively, goblins loyal to the Cult of the Absolute and Minthara can launch an assault on the grove; depending on the route taken, the Circle of the Emerald Grove can either be completely wiped out, or the raiding party can be decimated with the help of the tiefling refugees at the gate.
By the end of Act One, the Circle of the Emerald Grove can either be destroyed, sealed off from the outside world, or have remained open by virtue of eliminating the goblins. If Halsin is rescued, he will join the the party as a Companion even if the grove is sealed or destroyed in defence of the tiefling refugees; if the grove has been raided with the aid of Minthara and her goblins, Halsin will intrude on the party's camp and attack them.
Act Two
“A great many druids once stood here to fight Ketheric Thorm. Few ever left.„
The Circle of the Emerald Grove has no direct physical presence in Act Two, but remnants of past Emerald Grove activities can be observed throughout the entirety of the Shadow-Cursed Lands. Nevertheless, if the Emerald Grove is open by the time Act One ends, Halsin remarks that he invited Francesca of the High Forest to be the Circle's new First Druid.
While it is highlighted in a Inner Sanctum fresco that the Harpers and druids of the Emerald Grove once forged an alliance against Ketheric Thorm's Sharran army, physical evidence of this past alliance can be found in the form of dead Emerald Grove skeletons at the Ruined Battlefield and the bridge leading into the Reithwin Tollhouse. Physical remnants of the druids as well as accounts from Halsin indicate that the Circle faced substantial casualties during the battle and against the Shadow Curse, culminating into the loss of the Emerald Grove's then-archdruid.
Epilogue
In the Epilogue, if Halsin successfully and is present, he can give news of the Emerald Grove to the party. He mentions that Francesca has become an Archdruid, and proven has herself to be a wise and positive influence on the rest of the Circle.
Members
Animal Companions
Related items
Related literature
Related quests
Related locations
External links
References
- ↑ Dialogue with Halsin:
"The grove stood for generations. It was our link to Silvanus. Now it's nothing but blood and ashes - thanks to you."