Raid the Emerald Grove

Minthara commands to attack the grove

Raid the Grove is a sub-quest of the Druid Grove's main quest  Save the Refugees. It can be initiated by talking to Minthara in the Shattered Sanctum within the Goblin Camp and telling her the location of the grove.

Objectives

Objectives and journal entries may vary pending story decisions and outcomes.

Speak with Minthara.

• Dror Ragzlin told us to speak to the drow Minthara. She plans to raid the adventurers' refuge - the grove.

Interrogate the prisoner.

• Minthara asked us to interrogate the prisoner. She wants to know where the adventurers were hiding out.

Speak with Minthara.

• The adventurer gave in and revealed the location of the grove. We have what the drow Minthara needs to order the raid.

Prepare to raid the Grove.

• Minthara is preparing to attack the grove and told us to wait for next light. We should get some rest.
• Sazza told the drow Minthara where the grove is. Minthara plans to raid it - and wants our help.

Secure the Emerald Grove.

• Minthara and her warband have set out for the Grove. They are waiting for us to infiltrate it.

Report to the tiefling leader.

• We arrived at the grove just in time. Minthara's raiders will be here soon.

Blow the horn.

• The tieflings are as ready as they can be. All that's left is to sound the horn.

Defeat the raiders.

• Minthara arrived with raiders by her side. Defeating them means safety at last for the tieflings.

Return to Zevlor/Asharak/Cerys.

• The goblins were beaten back, and the tieflings lived to tell the tale. Zevlor/Asharak/Cerys wants to talk.

Slaughter the Emerald Grove.

• We chose Minthara and the Absolute over the tieflings. Now to take the grove.
• The tieflings are dead, but the druids are making a last stand at their sacred pool.

Return to Minthara.

• Tieflings and druids alike lie dead. The grove belongs to the Absolute. Minthara will be pleased.
• The grove was overrun before we could get involved. We should speak to Minthara.
• Faced with a barricade of vines, the goblins couldn't raid the grove. Minthara isn't happy.

Quest Complete

• The goblin threat has ended, and the tieflings are ready to leave. Tonight, we celebrate our victory at camp.
• With the tieflings dead, the grove is ours. Pleased, the Absolute granted us new powers. Tonight we celebrate at camp.
• Minthara was furious that the grove was sealed and attacked us.
• Minthara died before she could lead an attack on the grove.
• Minthara died before she could reward us for our part in the attack on the grove.

Walkthrough

Raiding the Emerald Grove can be started either by talking to Minthara in the Shattered Sanctum alone, or by completing  Save the Goblin Sazza and accompanying Sazza to inform Minthara about the Grove. Once the goblin forces are aware of the Grove's location, they mobilize to raid it. Minthara bids the party to go back to the Grove and infiltrate it from within. The raid occurs after the next Long Rest.

Once back at the Grove, the Druids and Tieflings have moved in response to the goblin's movements. The druids lock themselves into the Inner Sanctum and refuse to shelter any outlanders. Rikka is gathering the tiefling children, starting  Find Doni if the party agree to help her.

To start the raid, the party must speak to Zevlor on the ramparts at X: 192 Y: 446 It is possible to tell him that the party betrayed the tieflings, starting the battle early, or speak with him further for more information on his strategy. If Zevlor believes that the party members are on his side, he instructs them to sound the war horn once they are ready to start the raid. Immediately after sounding the horn the goblins appear, as well as Minthara, who orders the party to open the gate.

The party can obey:

• Obey and open the gate.
• [EVIL CLERIC] [EVIL PALADIN] Of course - as does my god.
• [OATHBREAKER] They still think I'm on their side. Poor fools.

The party can also refuse instead:

• No. This grove is under my protection.
• [SHADOWHEART] I serve Shar, not the Absolute. The gate stays closed.
• [CLERIC] Your god has no power here.
• [ASTARION] New plan - I tear out your throat.
• [LAE'ZEL] There's been a change of plan.
• [MINSC] I will not. Boo will not. And if you think to triumph here today, drow - you will not. (impossible without mods)
• [WYLL] Not so fast. You've just walked into my trap.
• [KARLACH] These people are under my protection - but I'll see you in the Hells.
• [GOOD CLERIC] [NEUTRAL CLERIC] [GOOD PALADIN] [NEUTRAL PALADIN] No. I'll show the Absolute the power of a true god.
• [DRUID] This place is sacred to Silvanus - the Absolute has no power here.
• [PALADIN] I will not bring death to this sacred place, Minthara.

If obeying, Minthara and the Goblin raiders become allies while the tieflings and Wyll (if present) become enemies. The party must, together with Minthara and the goblins move through the grove in sections clearing out all that remain. On returning to Minthara after the battle and she tells the party that she will meet them at camp. There Minthara congratulates the party and rewards them with a gift from the Absolute - a True Soul tadpole. After the night ends, Minthara tells the party that they must go to Moonrise Towers to find their place in the Absolute's Grand Design. She provides a Spider's Lyre and explains that a servant of hers can lead the party through the Shadow-Cursed Lands where Moonrise Towers is located. This instrument can also be stolen from her to that end via pickpocket, which currently results in a second instrument being generated should she later be recruited as a companion. Then, she leaves, stating she is gathering the troops to meet the party at Moonrise Towers. This starts  Travel to Moonrise Towers.

Disobeying and protecting the grove, has the tieflings act as allies. After the battle the surviving tieflings speak to the party and thank them for their help, then celebrate at camp. If Halsin is alive, he appears to congratulate the party and explains the strange movements occurring at Moonrise Towers. He tells the party the best shot at curing their tadpoles is going there, and offers to go with them.

Quest Rewards

• Gift from the Absolute - if the goblins are sided with
• Minthara can become a Companion in Act Two, if the goblins are sided with or if choosing not to get involved in the raid either way. Minthara can also be recruited if she is not killed in the fight but knocked out with non-lethal melee attacks.

Companion approval

• Agreeing to help raid the Emerald Grove  +1  -5  -1  -1

Consequences

Raiding the grove

Choosing to raid the grove with the goblin forces has immense, far-reaching consequences for the game, some of which can only be felt in later Acts. These consequences include:

• Karlach and Wyll leaves the party (or cannot be recruited if they have not already been).
• Halsin is not available as a companion.
• Gale will leave the party unless an Insight or Deception check is passed.
•  Lift the Shadow Curse cannot be resolved in Act Two.
• Loss of many rare equipment items, as the traders Dammon and Mattis cannot be traded with in Acts Two and Three.
• Halsin, Arabella, Dammon, and Zevlor cannot be recruited for  Gather Your Allies.
• Rolan cannot be recruited for  Gather Your Allies if he was convinced to stay and defend the Grove earlier.
• All unfinished quests involving the Grove cannot be completed.
• The inspiration  Slaughter's Prize is granted to party members with the Criminal background.
• The inspiration  Camaraderie in Bloodthirst is granted to party members with the Haunted One background.

Siding with the tieflings and druids and defending the grove

• Choosing to bring the goblins to the Emerald Grove, but then siding with the tieflings and druids lets the story play out similarly to as if the party had defeated the goblin camp leaders, but without the need to defeat the other two leaders Gut and Dror Ragzlin. However, some of the tieflings might die in the fight.
• Siding with the Emerald Grove also results in Minthara being available as a companion in Act Two if she is not killed but knocked out instead.

Not participating in the fight at the grove

A somewhat different set of consequences is incurred if choosing to leave the region without participating in the fight at the grove, including:

• All tieflings of the Emerald Grove die.
• Karlach and Wyll stay in the party (or can still be recruited if Act Two has not been started yet by travelling to the Shadow-Cursed Lands).
• Karlach's Infernal Engine cannot be repaired because Dammon died.
• Halsin cannot be recruited as companion, and spontaneously dies in his last known location, even if previously saved from the Goblins.
• Gale leaves the party permanently.
• The quest  Lift the Shadow Curse cannot be completed.
• Loss of many rare equipment items, as the then dead traders Dammon and Mattis cannot be traded with in Acts Two and Three.
• Halsin, Arabella, Dammon, and Zevlor cannot be recruited for  Gather Your Allies.
• Rolan cannot be recruited for  Gather Your Allies if he was convinced to stay and defend the Grove earlier
• All unfinished quests involving the Emerald Grove cannot be completed.
• Despite disobeying Minthara's orders, she is still available as a companion in Act Two.
• A specific bit of dialogue happens with the being in the Astral Prism, but all other characters appear to ignore the decision.