Its a trap

It was time to get going and the route up the mountain was no less treacherous when the Trollskull Syndicate set out again. The winds picked up and the blowing snow made visibility poor. The group found a place to rest for the night and then set out again the next morning. In the distance Bob heard some noise but it was hard to completely discern due to the winds. The group drew closer and eventually Bob was able to lead the group to where the sounds were coming from. The ground found a hole in the ground with two dwarves trapped in the bottom. The group greeted the dwarves. The dwarves started to explain how some oni had tricked them into this trap when Rayla suddenly decided to jump into the pit with them.

Seeing Rayla jump into the pit Argus decided to follow her lead and jumped in as well. It was Argus that ended up triggering the trip wire and releasing a bundle of logs that were hanging above the pit and hidden by a spell of illusion. Some fell into the pit while other logs fell on the ground around it. Inside the pit the logs hit the people below injuring Rayla and Argus but also revealing that the dwarves were actually Oni in disguise. They had devised a clever trap, where they would pretend to be captured and to build trust tell the group about the log trap. Then the dwarves would offer to help the group up the mountain, but really they would be following the group to find the dragon's lair.

Their entire plan was foiled by the impatience of Rayla and a misstep by Argus. In the pit Argus and Rayla immediately attacked. Leomarvis gave Fleshripper the attack command and the black bear leapt into the pit delivering a well executed RKO on an oni. Bob leapt into the pit land on an oni and delivering a lethal blow. Morthos and Norbert used spells to help their friends but the surprised oni put up little resistance. The group climbed out the pit, using some rope to get Flesshripper up and then set out to the dragon's lair. Shimmerall, the silver dragon, found the group travelling up the mountain. Defeating thew two oni had freed her from the trap. She allowed the group to climb on her back and she flew them to the top of the mountain where her lair was.

The group was honoured to have the secret of her lair, something a dragon rarely shares. Shimmerall gave the group some gold and bestowed each with the gift of a magic item. The next day Shimmerall flew the group to a forest not far from Amago.