Forest Paths

The Forest Paths is a special encounter/once-off area in Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear that is triggered the first time that Gorion's Ward and their party departs from the Forest of Wyrms.

This area consists of a section of woodlands where the player discovers a Young Green Dragon being menaced by a pair of Hill Giants. Upon spotting the party, the dragon pleads for aid against its giant assailants, giving the player the choice of which course of action to take.

Help the Dragon
In addition to the experience points and loot for slaying the Hill Giants, the Young Green Dragon will reward the player by telling them of an otherwise inaccessible secret in the northwestern part of this map. This cache will contain some random gems, 1000 gold pieces, and the Blood Red Ioun Stone.

If the player moves quickly, they can still attack the dragon before it leaves after telling them where to find the cache, which will grant them its combat experience points as well.

Help the Giants
Upon slaying the dragon, or simply allowing the giants to do the killing, the rest of the band - two more Hill Giants and a Hill Giant Leader - will arrive, and the whole hunting party will attack the player's party for "spoiling their meal".

This path offers more combat experience points, but forgoes the wealth and unique magical item that comes from helping the dragon.

Trivia
This encounter is based on a bit of AD&D lore from the Monstrous Manual, where hill giants are noted for considering the flesh of green dragons as a delicacy and organizing hunting parties to take them down.

This is one of the encounters needed to obtain the Explorer achievement.