On the way, the group followed [[Kaupu]] and [[Lotte]] just to the side of the trail. They spotted a pit trap and decided to go around rather than exploring.
They came to an area that was thoroughly trapped with snares. In addition [[Lotte]] spotted a hiding place and they assumed that there was more hiding spots that were almost certainly occupied. [[Camillune]] decided that the approach was to call out.
When that didn't work, she set off a snare (there was a bell attached as an alarm). and when that didn't work the group decided to press on. [[Camillune]] set off all the traps she could find on the way.
Not much further along, they came to a swift flowing stream that couldn't be easily crossed. However, there was a tree that had been felled across the stream as a rudimentary bridge. [[Ardour]] decided to go first and realized that the bridge was a no magic area.
He decided to brave the crossing anyway. From the other side, a humanoid approached. He is a fairly good looking guy, with green skin and very small protruding tusks. Sort of a "quarter-orc". He isn't paying attention to his surroundings and is halfway across the bridge before he realizes there's anyone else there.
He demands to be allowed to cross first as he was there first. [[Peltogyne]] (I think?) points out that isn't the truth, so he says he should go first since it's his forest. [[Kaupu]] wants to know if he's a king and he says he's not.
[[Ardour]] moves back to the shore with his friends and the orc crosses and introduces himself as [[Orib]]. [[Kaupu]] asks how it's his forest. [[Camillune]] explains that they're looking for bandits and can [[Orib]] direct them to any. He says it's his forest because it's where he lives and he can't point out any bandits, sorry. [[Kaupu]], who's suspicions are up, asks if [[Orib]] is himself a bandit and wants to roll insight to see if he's been lying. With a 25 (or something stupid like that) [[Kaupu]] discovers that up until this last question, [[Orib]] has been completely honest, but he's not entirely honest when he says he's not a bandit.
[[Orib]] invites the group to his house where he says they'll be safe. There's an exchange of (slightly) veiled threats, but the group opts to follow the orc. On the way, [[Kaupu]] warns the others of his lie.
The castle is little more than a 3 story tower in disrepair. Coming back to the castle, there are a handful of orcs, another of gnolls, and a double handful of goblins who come out to greet them. Orib explains that this area has an effect something like slowing time down. Any pressing tasks they have will still be waiting when they've left, and they can stay almost as long as they like with no ill effects.
So, they stay the night. Mechanically, this is an opportunity for the group to pick up extra feats or whatever sort of downtime goodies they might want. Pel wants to work toward fighting skills. They spar with Sam to that end. (Sam is a character that didn't get much playtime in the previous campaign, and I wanted to pit the player's current character against her previous one.) In the middle, Friedel takes a turn in order to speak privately with Pel to say he's pursuing studies with Ardour and to ask them to not interfere. Pel is skeptical, but agrees to abide by the boy's wishes.
The following day the group talks more to Orib who admits that they have a secret in the tower. When pressed on this, he hedges, and insight rolls show that he is signalling the men he has on hand to prepare to attack the group. The group reassures him that, basically, they're the good guys and he agrees to show them his secret.
Taking them up to a locked door, he opens it on a collection of shredded tissue and piled pillows and blankets and thick carpets and all sort of fuzzy, warm, cozy, comforting things. Everyone enters and finds a portal doorway just out of view of the door. The room is unoccupied and Orib explains that a dragon lives here.
He says she was living here when he arrived, and that this is why he doesn't consider himself or his men to be bandits. They protect the dragon's hoard when she isn't around. He explains that the portal goes to Fairie and that's probably where she is. The dragon returns at this point. She's a white fairy dragon, with black patches (like a cow, not like a dalmatian) and as soon as she sees that Orib is not alone, she goes invisible. Camillune expresses some disappointment and Lorrin "puts a comforting hand on her shoulder", which made the DM require a con save that Lorrin failed.
They all leave eventually. Leisse, Orib says, doesn't talk to anyone but him, but Sam has said that she's spoken with him too once. Yes, he says, they are aware of the eradication of dragons and their hoards going on in the wider world which is why they're so careful about who knows about Leisse.
The group decides to stay a couple more days. Ardour says he wants to continue training Friedel, but that the training will take a couple of days alone, so they leave the castle. Lorrin goes to see Leisse alone and decides to play music for the dragon. No save this time, as the dc can't be met.
Pel keeps training and the DM makes a point to say that anyone who wants to pursue things is welcome to do so and we can retcon if you come up with something you want to have done that you couldn't think of at the time. Kaupu explores the box a little further.
After two days, Ardour comes back without Friedel and explains that he turned the boy over to someone that could teach him more, as Ardour had reached the limits of what he could teach. The group is suspicious, with Pel rolling insight against Ardour's persuasion/deception (player's choice). Pel believes that Ardour is telling the truth. Lorrin rolled a 3 and believes that not only is Ardour telling the truth, but Friedel is probably better off.
The group states an intention that they want to come back, but do move on. They pass a group of gnomes, but the gnomes are going on about their own business and the group doesn't stop them. The group comes to a bridge across the main river, beyond which is the plains and then the mountains that are their destination beyond that.
That's where we stopped.
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