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Some interesting concerns about the efficacy of Halsin's leadership as the archdruid of the Emerald Grove surface as players explore the complex world of Baldur's Gate 3. Although many players respect Halsin, there are some events in the first act that call for questions regarding his general ability as well as that of his fellow druids.
Initiated by user DropShoddy1128, a prominent debate on Reddit explores the apparently inexplicable control of the Emerald Grove druids in neglecting to acknowledge the presence of Ethel, a strong hag, and Zlorb, a shapeshifting blob masquerading as an ox, inside their own camp. This begs issues about the Grove's degree of awareness and vigilance.
Particularly Zlorb's case seems to be a clear mistake. Deep connection with nature and animals is well-known about Druids. Given a basic DC 10 insight check is sufficient for players to identify something unusual, one would expect them to notice Zlorb.
Ethel's ability to hide her actual form is unquestionably strong, but it's perplexing why the druids wouldn't have given more thought to her contacts with Mayrina. This fuels rumors that the isolationist tendencies of the druids might have contributed to their ignorance, so tarnishing Halsin's leadership.
The story of the game seems to imply that the druids of the Emerald Grove were not very concerned in the welfare of the Tieflings or other Refugees who fled their grove. Their main concentration seemed to be on hastening the tiefling departure, suggesting that they were not especially observant of their surroundings.
Though their situation is dire and they depend on the druids for protection, this apathetic attitude toward the Refugees paints a less-than-perfect picture of the druids' nature. Although Halsin shows real concern for helping the refugees—especially by visiting the Goblin Camp—his attempts to inspire comparable compassion in his fellow druids seem to have failed.
Given that Kagha is quickly replaced as the leader once he vanishes, this begs the issue of whether Kagha is entirely responsible for the apathy of the druids or if it reflects a lack of leadership on Halsin's part.
Though the druids' behavior seems different, there are possible reasons that might help to change the negative impression of Halsin's leadership. First of all, Ethel has quite strong concealment of her actual identity. It takes a DC 20 insight check to show her illusion of the Sunlit Wetlands that the druids could have been honestly unaware of due to her strong magic.
About Zlorb, just because druids can interact with animals doesn't always mean they have casual talks with every species they come across. The druids may have been so preoccupied with their own worries that they paid less attention to the specifics regarding the oxen imported by the immigrants.
These possible reasons notwithstanding, these events still call into doubt Halsin's leadership ability. He was really committed to helping others since he voluntarily entered the Goblin Camp and risked his life for the cause. Nevertheless, the flaws in the druids' behavior—particularly their apathy toward the Refugees—leave players wondering if Halsin's leadership really reflects the values of a smart and sympathetic druid.