They reached Trademeet the following day in the early afternoon. Upon entering the gates, they beheld a strange scene: wild animals ferociously savaged several city guards who were doing their best to ward off the beasts.
Jaheira quickly attempted to control the beasts and call them off the men, but her natural bond was blocked by a stronger force upon the animals and they ignored her. She tried again to no effect, but by then the group had driven off the animals and healed the guard as best as possible.
“What is going on here?” she demanded of the nearest unwounded man. He directed her toward the commander of the troupes, surveying the gates from a distance. She strode over to him angrily and demanded to know what was happening.
The man gave her an appraising look and told her firmly to turn back to wherever she had come. “We are in no condition to welcome travelers,” he explained gruffly.
“I am a druid,” Jaheira asserted, “And may be of some assistance in this matter. Why are wild animals attacking the city? Have you angered them in some way?”
The commander shook his head. “That’s the strange thing. We have done nothing to provoke these attacks; one day groups of animals began to attack the gates, and we must use all of our defenses to drive them away. They attack with a single-mindedness I have never seen before.”
Jaheira pursed her lips and thought of this revelation. “Have you had any contact with the Druid Grove nearby?” she demanded. “They should have investigated this.”
“A druid was called in from another Grove to act as messenger,” the guard said hesitantly. “By this time, tensions were high in the city and it was all we could do to prevent him from being mobbed. He set out from town one day and we heard nothing for a time. Then, a single wolf came to the gates days later with a package: it dropped the bundle and left without attacking.”
“What was it?” Jaheira prompted.
“The druid’s head,” the man said in disgust. “Whatever has happened to the land, he was unable to stand against it.”
Jaheira promised to look into the matter and returned to the group, heart heavy. Whatever could have possessed Nature to kill one of her own? Only one option appeared in her mind: Shadow Druids.
“What is happening here?” Valygar echoed her earlier question. “I have never seen anything like this.”
“I think the Druid Grove may have a hand in this,” Jaheira explained grimly. She related the guard captain’s tale, adding her own fears. “Only Shadow Druids would be so rash as to attack another druid,” she said. “I had not known of a sect nearby. We must find them and stop their attacks.”
“Surely druids are not the sole cause for this town’s quiet,” Haer’Dalis observed. “Nary a soul lurks in the street, no vendors hawk their wares for the world to hear. The town is abandoned.”
Yoshimo assented. “I noted this, too. Even with these attacks, business would continue. Trademeet is famous for its transactions; without them, it would soon vanish into dust.”
“It would have happened eventually,” Xan shrugged. “Why not now?”
“Have you ever heard of the Doomguard?” Haer’Dalis asked the elf as they made their way further into town. “You show exceptional promise.”
The group reached a large mansion, directed by a guard, which served as home to the city’s mayor and government building. Perhaps the mayor could give better insight into Trademeet’s problems.
A harried woman practically assaulted them as they entered. “Oh, thank goodness,” she exclaimed. “You must be here to deal with the Dao djinn. You look like adventurers.”
“Djinn?” Valygar asked in confusion. “Djinn are causing animals to attack?”
The woman shook her head. “No, no. We do not know who directs the animals. The djinn are a separate problem altogether. Allow me to introduce myself: I am Guildmistress Busya. I run Trademeet’s financial concerns. Several days ago, after the animal attacks had already started, a group of Dao djinn arrived in search of a fugitive. They said they detected their quarry somewhere nearby and would remain here until they found it. Then they proceeded to stop any incoming caravans and buy their wares before our merchants could, and charged outrageous rates to everyone. Soon, they created a monopoly in town, and no one can afford their prices anymore. Please, you must stop them before they starve us.”
“That would explain the desolation,” Haer’Dalis nodded. “A most ingenuous use of entropy to destroy an entire city. Admirable, I must admit.”
“Pay him no attention,” Jaheira said casually. “If we can help with the djinn, we will. Our principle concern is with the Druid Grove, however. Do you know anything of it?”
“You should talk to the mayor,” the guildmistress directed. “He has been looking into that himself.” She led them to the mayor’s office and announced them.
The mayor of Trademeet appeared to be a veteran of many battles and unused to sitting behind a desk of papers. He greeted them warmly and invited them to sit. “I am Logan Coprith, mayor of Trademeet. I assume you have heard of our problems?” Jaheira agreed. “Then you will understand that I am in desperate need for your help; between the druids and the djinn we are soon to be overwhelmed and destroyed. Please, you must help us,” the man pleaded.
“We will do everything to help,” Ajantis pledged, as Aerie nodded fervently.
“Yes, this is terrible, we must help you,” she asserted.
Jaheira raised her eyebrows but declined to comment at the girl’s boldness. “Yes, we will help. I am told another druid has already been here but was not successful?”
Lord Coprith hanged his head wearily. “Yes, poor man. For this reason, I urge discretion on your part until this is cleared up. We don’t want another mob situation, and your group might make its way without challenge to the Grove. Since the druid’s death we have had no contact with anyone outside the town, and our resources are exhausted from the djinn’s control over all goods.”
Jaheira thanked him for his small bit of information and they left to secure rooms for the night. She and Valygar would speak to the Dao while the rest of them settled in for the long march to the Grove the next day.
Aerie and Ajantis headed up to their rooms as soon as they entered the inn, and Haer’Dalis led Tybalt to a private corner of the bar, leaving Xan and Yoshimo standing in the entranceway. “It appears we are the odd ones out,” the bounty hunter smiled. “Shall we make the best of it? Let me buy you a drink.”
Xan grumbled for a moment but after a show of annoyance, agreed. “Iranie, go to the room,” he commanded the familiar, who obliged happily. “I don’t want to see if our link extends to drinking,” he grumped. “I’d hate to see her drunk. Sober is bad enough.”
The two sat at the bar and ordered drinks.
