Helix HP 78/96 AC 19 magic weapon greater on ballista ?/12 hrs. Not sure how much longer on this spell.
Vola HP 95/95 AC 21 resist energy round ?/80 minutes DR20 fire for her Helix and anyone else that was in the initial casting.
"Thank you captain, I will ask the Giants for their aid in you behalf, do I have leave to conduct business in your name?" Helix will turn to leave "Oh would one of you be kind enough to wake the paladin and cleric in case these guests are of hostile intent?"
Helix goes topside and speaks to the Giant he was parlaying with, " I am Helix and the Captain has informed me to request your aid in our troubled time. He stated that compensation would be forthcoming for assistance and that I may treat with you in his stead"
Helix will hold ready for any type of attack.
Panzadeya HP146/146 AC 33
Jughead HP 133/133 AC 28
While Helix is below Jughead replies, “I do not like to be below, I enjoy the open.” He studies his opponents for any weaknesses (soft points, joints, hinges,…) and the ship for any advantage to discharge of the giants if they become unhelpful or even hostile in the future.
Negotiations go well. The captain agrees to take his air ship to Sky Queen Idra's cloud castle in return for rescue from the storm. The giants state that she wishes him to carry parcels to Sharn for her.
"She may also have other requests for any members of your crew or passengers willing to take them on, but if you take the parcels your obligation for rescue has been fulfilled," one of the giants says.
After the negotiations conclude, both giants remove giant sized potion bottles from their satchels and uncork them. The air around and in the ship returns to normal and everyone can go back topside if they wish.
It will take about an hour to reach the castle.
Someone mentions the strange palanquin within earshot of the giants and they announce. "So, you have been threatened by them too?"
Jughead will stay alert and on watch. Panzadeya will come up on deck and ask the giants about the parcels. What are they? How many? How big? Who are they to be delivered to? Why doesn't the Queen just hire an airship to take the parcels? She will also ask about the Sky Queen Idra and her cloud castle? Also, what do they know about the palanquin? Who is it? Why did it attack the ship? Panzadeya Diplomacy , Gather Information , Sense Motive . Panzadeya will also try to detect thoughts. DC = 27 This is an exorcist ability.
"I would gladly meet your Queen and hear her offer of service" Helix will address the Giants. "How is it that your realm resides in the clouds? Are you made of cloud?"
Helix will address the giants singly or in groups as need to learn as much as he can, offer services to repair any thing that may need mending or improvement.
"Well, there may be more than just parcels. I'm glad you will speak with her."
"The queen won't hire an airship because none stop here. This storm was a coincidence. She will explain."
"The palanquin are forces of the queen's enemy, King Garant. He is her former husband."
Your attempts to gather more information fail. The giants don't appear very interested in talking to you.
The cloud castle is more like an island...a realm of fine grass, fields, huge cattle, trees, bees the size of birds on top of a huge cloud formation. The castle looks like a huge cloud mansion. Everyone gawks at the spectacle.
The ship makes port and settles on the cloud surface, sinking in slightly. The captain takes the parcels on to deliver to Sharn.
One of the giants that landed on the ship asks Panzadeya if she and her companions would like to meet the queen.
“I would love to meet the queen. Please allow me to make myself presentable to her,” replies Panzadeya. She will go to her cabin on the airship and put on her best attire. Before going back above she will go by the cargo hold to see what type of parcels are being loaded. She will try to detect evil and detect thoughts on the parcels.She will also look at the crew that is loading the parcels and ask them about their content. Jughead will go with her. Panzadeya will also explain to him (and the others if possible) of her plan of trying a spell –Zone of Truth –in the presence of the queen, if Jughead can provide a distraction. She will also talk to the captain, being suspicious that the captain may be forced to leave us while we are off the ship. If that is the case, to please inform the church of the Silver Flame of the situation and that a rescue could be profitable for him. Finally, Panzadeya and Jughead will join the others on the deck.
" I will gladly meet with your Queen, show us the way"
Moving across the cloud feels like walking on air. You feel resistance under your feet, but it is very subtle and your movement forward is jerky and awkward until you get used to it.
The sky queen's palace is a gawdy oversized castle, with multicolored furnishings, strangely mosaic tiles and animal skin wall hangings. Storm giants and cloud giants make up the warrior staff, with hairless ogre sized humanoids with luminiscent eyes serving as wait staff and servants.
You are led into an antechamber, where the queen sits on a huge oak carved table. Food and drink is laid out on it and your chairs are appropriately sized for you and your serving dishes and portions are also 'medium' sized. Various meats, fruits, cheeses and a fine wine are served.
"Welcome. You are an unexpected surprise. I almost never have visitors, even accidental ones, from Eberron. It is fortuitous, because I have need for the services of the wee folk."
Her advisor, an ogre mage with crazy unkempt hair, whispers in her ear.
"Ah, I'm sorry. You are not wee folk, of course. They are even smaller, if that's possible."
"Anyway, are you all mercenaries? Do you kill and carry out missions for money?
“No, we do not kill for money. We protect the defenseless, we help the needy, and some of us spread the True Faith of the Silver Flame,” replies Panzadeya quickly. She understands that some of her companions are not so altruistic. Diplomacy:
Helix will look about and try to gauge the atmosphere of the palace staff and attendees. He will try to spot any cultish or known evil religous symbols or heraldry.
Ignoring the food and drinks, Helix will let Panzadeya finish.
"Mercenaries?...Hmm never thought of us in that light before. I can only speak for myself, but yes I do help others with problems for payment. As for killing, that usually is just a byproduct of helping others. We do not kill needlessly or out of thoughtless dogma. Usually we end up destroying those that are intent on causing us harm"
Helix will pause wait for any comments, then continue in his measured steady voice.
"If you wish to explain your situation, we may be able to help, and then again we may not be able to"
Helix will wait patiently for a response.
The advisor whispers in the Queen's ear.
"I have no knowledge of your Silver Flame, but my advisor does. He says your ways are honorable, if misguided. I do not think there will be a conflict.
"My former husband, the Sky King Olivard, a storm giant, has assumed human form and taken up with a gang of human vagabonds in the town called Sharn. I want you to find him and bring him to me. He will fight. Kill him and bring him to me. I don't want him permanently dead. I will raise him from the dead and then we can have our 'divorce'." She smiles grimly.
"I will pay you with magic. I have magic from the surface. A lot of it. You can have 'some' of it if you succeed."
“Your Majesty, this King that you wish us to bring before you, how powerful is he and can you advise us of the make up and numbers of this gang of vagabonds?” Helix will stand before her trying to remember Mirrim’s way of speech with those in power.
“Is this group as magicked up as the palanquin we fought off earlier? If so then the items of magic you are willing to pay must be of great potency”. Helix pauses seeing if the Queen will volunteer what items that may be paid out.
“Also I assume this King does not wish to be brought back for his divorce willingly and since he is in a town governed by law, may you provide us with a writ of collection for his person? If we do collect him, how are we to return here as we came upon your realm on the whims of the storm?
Diplomacy roll 1d20+4=12
While Helix is addressing the queen, Panzadeya will analyze the situation. She will try to detect evil on the queen, the advisor, and guards.
Jughead asks, “If we pursue him, he fights, and dies. Why do you need his body and bring him back to life? What is your custom for “divorce”?
Diplomacy:
His gang is sizable, I've been told. I'm sure they have lots of magic. The palanquin that attacked you is part of a group of undead airborne pirates that prey on aerial shipping and shipping on the lake below. They don't mess with us, though. As far as your reward, it will be substantial...if you bring him to me, I will pay you all the equivalent of 75,000 gp of magical gear. I can give you a write as you desire. To return, just fly on up above the lake and we'll find you, or come to the edge of the lake to a town named Ezia and go to the "Storm Queen's Inn." We'll find you.
Panzadeya does detect evil on the queen.
Jughead's question is greeted with a sneer. "Let me worry about that."
"I believe this is an acceptable deal" Helix agrees to the deal, and asks "So how are we to identify your soon to be ex?"
Panzadey will state,"As High Inquisitor of the Silver Flame, it is my DUTY to LOOK into the situation." She will turn to her companions, "Let us be on our way."