Trade Secrets

The group heads down the trail on horseback(18:36), and Kesra chews out the group, telling them that they need to be more careful. She insists that they all need to follow a buddy system, sticking close to at least one other person. As the group contemplates what to do, they see a path made out of large runes, catching the light of the aurora borealis.

Kesra manages to lay a hand on Red and heal up some of her wounds. As they follow the path, the begin to see skeletons, ambling through the valley, not approaching the path. They make an effort to stay absolutely quiet and not attract the skeletons' attention. They press on all night long, continuing to pass skeletons, before coming to a place where they feel safe making camp.

As they rest for the day, Deirdre notices of a strangely-shaped rock near the path. When she wakes up Leona for her watch, she asks her about Roman, telling her that she does not trust him or the Silence. Leona assures her that it's all fine, and she's known Roman her whole life. On her watch, Leona messages Marshall, thanking him for the diamonds, and checking in.

After their rest, the continue and get closer, finding that the rock is a marble statue of a centaur, reaching for a statue of an Aarakocra with a bell around her neck. Leona recalls a story about Brygandros and Sikh, in which a pair of lovers, a centaur and an Aarakocra who worked together to get their races to fight together, giving their own lives in the fight against elemental evil.

Over the next two days, they follow the trail, climbing halfway up into Mount Tristanhold. At the end of the trail, the find a carving of a young Eachthighearn, the Lord of Horses, carved into the mountainside. They see that he is pointing to some writing in Celestial: "Voiceless, it cries. Wingless, flutters. Toothless, bites. Mouthless, mutters". As soon as Deirdre speaks the word "wind", the rock begins to fade away.

As they prepare to head in, Alexander warns the group to keep an eye out for traps. As they move in, they find a mass treasure hoard, and, in the center of it, a massive ancient silver dragon. He tells them to approach, and changes form into a human appearance.

The dragon introduces himself as Gravitas. They tell him that they are looking for the Well of Wonder. He asks Leona for the greatest love story she's ever heard, one that he has never heard, which will make him feel again in his last days. She tells him the story of Aimee and Leonis Stormwilde, and he admits he's never heard it before. He asks each of them, in turn, what they would ask the well, if they get an opportunity, and they each answer the question.

He tells them he sees that they are not evil creatures, and he will let them pass. But before they go, he makes them an offer: for each secret they trade to him, he will give them a magic item from his hoard of equal worth.

Kesra approaches, nervously, and tells him that she burned down one of the biggest Sun Trees on the continent and let other people take the fall. He finds it a worth secret, and gives her a bag of 600 GP worth of diamonds. Deirdre approaches, and admits that she is bound to someone else, but loves Maudit. He gives her a set of heavy armor in exchange. Maudit gives a secret, and gets a ring in exchange. Alexander tells him that the Mad Lich King, an exarch of Vecna, works with the empress of Senmarria. Gravitas gives Alexander a spellbook which he says belonged to the wife of Quan Mal Macierre. He also offers for Alexander to request something, and he requests an instrument for Leona, and is given a Doss Lute. Kesra then approaches again and gives him her real name: Kestrel Sandovaran. He gives her another bag, this one with 50 platinum pieces.