No dragons are friends of giants? Jysson thinks to himself. That's my kind of dragon!
Jysson heads out to the edge and waves at the incoming dwarves, his flail hooked to his belt and his shield low.
A warm smile is on his face.
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Pindleton gawks at Jysson. What is that fool doing?! Does he know them or is this some clever plan of his? I'd rather than fight this lot, but guess we'll see.
Seth most definitely doesn't want problems with the Silver Dragons r with Alustriel's Henchmen. Hopefully Jysson will solve the things peacefully (?).
The dragon nearly blinds you by lifting its back, casting an intense glare like a spotlight on the tower. The dwarves quaff potions off their bandoliers, and take a strange wispy form.
The gaseous dwarves (...) spill onto the cloud and quickly advance, floating past Jysson with determination, but you hardly notice...
The dragon makes a sudden dive that breaks the sound barrier with a loud, thunderous "crack!", tumbling into a reverse body slam, it pounds the tower hard with its backbone, shattering the ancient stones whole. Crawling through the gaping hole in the tower it just made, it scrambles higher with its massive claws, spitting a huge billowing substance into the chamber of Zephyros.
The dwarves shout their cries of glory and start to ascend.
Now might be your only chance to stop them or reason with them. They seem to be ignoring you (PCs), for the moment.
Uhh..... Hi, Jysson says. What are you guys doing here? He doesn't really know what to do, so he just tries to talk to them.
They seem fairly hyped up on adrenaline, and one of them screams "Giants are the new scourge of the North! We're taking them out!" he gives a flourish of his battleaxe that proves his martial skill, as he gets showered in the white stone powder from the dragons tremendous blow to the tower.
They seem fairly hyped up on adrenaline, and one of them screams "Giants are the new scourge of the North! We're taking them out!"
I've heard that dragons are quite evil too, why don't you start with your scaly friend there? or only giants are to be subject to attacks based on blatant discrimination and not any proof of wrongdoing?
One of the 6 dwarves pauses, pointing at Seth "Naalt, did you hear that one?"
"Aye, spare him Griswelda. Tiamat's bigotry has soured the dragonkin irreversibly in the public's mind. That one knows nothing of our just Clarion."
"...ok. But did you hear the other part? The 'giants aren't so bad' part I mean." responds Griswelda.
"..." Naalt looks Seth over good and hard before finally settling on a frown and bursting out with "Egads man, have you been imprisoned on this cloud the whole season? Giants have besieged nearly every city in the North."
"I mean of course the Lord's alliance would not act without proof of wrongdoing, but what more do you need? Have you heard of Nightstone? Reports are 3 of these floating cloud castles nearly eliminated a generation. Dropping boulders whole upon the children..."
They seem to have taken a brief pause, waiting for your response. The dragon has flown all the way to the aerie and is engaged with the griffons.
I did hear that. Do you know if this giant here, personally, was responsible? Or should I blame you for that time a dwarf started a fight with my brother?
Even with the bad manners and dubious pronunciation the elf here have a point. Should your scaly friend be judged by the action of a red wyrm, or all dwarvenkind for the actions of your gray cousins?
YOU NEED TO LEAVE WHILE YOU CAN!
Gloriana appears out of the dust of the pillars, a javelin in each hand. Her intent is clear and she is mad as hell.
WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO ATTACK OUR GIANT FRIEND? HE HAS DONE HARM TO NO ONE! NIGHTSTONE WAS A RUBBLE LONG BEFORE HIS FLOATING CASTLE CAME ON THE SCENE. SO, CALL OFF THE DRAGON...OR DIE!
If the dwarves hesitate, Gloriana will attack.
Naalt raises his hand to halt the dwarf squad at the party's remarks, in particular Gloriana's overt hostility "Woah there, lassy. A move against the Alliance is a move against the North...we've been patient with you prisoners, but you're starting down a path you can't return from. That isn't a threat, I'm just telling you the way it is."
He then turns back to Seth. "What are you saying exactly? The master of this aerie is trustworthy? Do you even realize you be trapped here...?" he sighs "Maybe yer right. What do you propose then? We've orders to immobilize this station."
And to Jysson "Blame me if you want, birch-strider. Your brother had it coming, I'd wager."
F+*% you, dirt-eater, Jysson inelegantly retorts. Don't make me knock your furry hide right off this castle.
Pindleton keeps floating, trying to stay obscured in his cloud illusion, waiting to see how this turns out. But he does position himself to have his bow trained directly at Naalt, ready to let loose should the dwarf attack.
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Naalt considers the civility in Sohar's words, and he seems amiable "So ye propose a informal trial to weigh this giant's acti-" he suddenly cuts off at Jysson's interjection, and the tension ratchets up by a factor of 1000. "Why you son of a..."
Luckily, another dwarf speaks up, throwing himself between Naalt and Jysson "Can it, a!+&@$%s. Let's focus on the matter at hand here. Maybe if we stopped bickering and worked together these giant attacks wouldn't happen in the first place. Get'cher heads right!"
Gloriana tenses after Jysson's retort, but once another dwarf steps in, she relaxes...but only a fraction.
Call off the dragon and we can talk. Whatever it thinks of Master Zephyr, it is wrong. He has harmed no one.
She says a silent prayer that this is indeed true.
They agree and a studious looking dwarf cracks a small glass rod. In moments, the rod begins dripping with an odd golden fluid that gets brighter and brighter. The droplets do not fall down, but rather up, and begin coalescing in midair at a great height. This seems to catch Clarion's attention and he quickly perches, catching his breath.
Zephyros peeks out the brand new window Clarion had installed, surrounded by a glistening field of color, which for those familiar with the arcane might recognize as similar to a resilient sphere. "Truce? This isn't the cloud castle you're looking for."
Naalt then blurts out. "So? Nightstone was attacked by cloud giants in cloud castles. You're telling me that isn't a cloud giant in a cloud castle? Ok. Go on." he folds his arms.
That's right, Jysson says. This here is our ride to take a fallen dwarven warrior back to his home for a proper dwarven funeral.
There are surely more than one cloud giant in a cloud castle, eh?
Speaking the words aloud gives Gloriana a moments pause. she wonders.
Instead of attacking first and asking questions later, there are always other means of getting answers. You know, like asking?
The dwarves look at each other a bit puzzled. "Ye lot have taken up the duty of death notice...for a dwarf?"
And at Gloriana "Lass, we've traveled all about the North and beyond. I've not met a giant yet who wasn't hostile as a wounded dog."
He was our companion and he died in battle. So, we are bringing his remains to his family.
As for giants, I haven't met many...or any, except this one, and he is not hostile at all. At least toward me and my companions.
One of the littler dwarves points at Z after Gloriana's words saying "Behold, the lass speak true, he slayeth not..." the other begin a concerned mumbling.
Naalt raises an eyebrow "This dwarf, if ye knew him, what be his clan?"
*sky crickets chirp*
The dwarves start to look uneasy at the party's silence "Ye lot aren't in with any dwarves, are ye."
"Hold on." Zephyros interjects "There is truly nothing that might prove my innocence. But I can demonstrate the goodness within. Perhaps we could travel to Nightstone, I could spearhead an effort to rebuild. What do you say?"
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"HIS NAME WAS ODAN SHAN!"
The Pindleton cloud drifts back towards the "ground" and the illusion disappates. Pindleton makes a show of putting his arrow away and holding his bow out to the side, appeasing.
"My apologies on the... disguise. But with an attack looming, we took precautions and prepared for battle, I presume warriors like yourself would understand."
He tries to give his speech a grandiose air - as befitting honoring a fallen dwarf warrior, even if Pindleton may be more familiar with grandiose academy lectures instead. "But his name was Odan Shan, and he was the greatest dwarf I ever fought beside. He was truly a testament to dwarven bravery. In an ancient tower, his might helped defeat a vile creature, but tragically, the structure was unable to support us. He fought on, however, and as the tower crumbled, he took our enemy with him to both of their deaths."
"We managed to track his kin to Nightstone but it was already destroyed. The villagers there said it was several floating castles that attacked them - not just a lone one like this. Odan's relative moved north to Triboar. We were on our way there when Zephyeros here offered us transportation and we willingly accepted. Giants may be attacking many towns, but we have been traveling with this one, and he has attacked no one."
When Pindleton mentions the nature of Odan's death, the dwarves seem shocked "Good lord, a Nekralith, killed by worked stone...there hasn't been one for years...ye lot seem just." he turns to the others questioningly and one by one they nod in agreement.
"Alright, its settled then. Godspeed to Triboar...Clarion will track this Zephyros until after you've reached, and if he's true to his word, if he really aids with the rebuilding of Nightstone, we spare him."
Jysson nods along, pretending he knows exactly what they're talking about.
Just as the dwarves leave, he says to Naalt, not even sure if his voice will carry on the wind, I'll be seeing you later, Fur Face. His right hand touches the handle of his flail, unconsciously preparing the for inevitable battle in their future. In a softer voice, he says, For my brother.
"Not if I don't see you first, sonny." he responds cryptically before being snugly crushed by Clarion's claw. The great mirror-like dragon simply steps backwards off the cloud silently, and in a flash the last of the flowing beards is out of sight.
Zephyros thanks you all for defending him, especially after what happened with the cultists. Only one more night passes and you are saying your goodbyes.
Descending the cloud stairs fills you mixed emotions of fear and anticipation, but at last your feet again find earth, an old friend, the rich soils and stagnant air of a humid spring.
Gloriana is sad to leave the great giant. She offers Sky Kris back to him. I would gladly stay with you if not for a promise I made to our friend. I hope to cross paths with you again.
He refuses "Keep it as a symbol of duty, sentry. Should you wish to find me again, try the Moonshae Isles...watch for the tumbling hat."
The bustling mercantile town of Triboar stands where the Long Road meets the Evermoor Way. Triboar's name is thought to have come from a traveler's tale of slaying three boars here in the same day, over four hundred winters ago.
The town is built on flat, fertile land, with a few natural rises here and there. Nearly half of the population seems to live outside the town proper, on sprawling ranches and neighboring farmsteads, most of which like to the north or east.
If you ask, people will tell you Darathra Shendrel is the current Lord Protector. From your cloud staircase, you arrive from the south in the early evening. The familiar clink of tavern mugs has a certain draw after your long journey.
Some other notes:
Sohar, you might feel a mystical connection to the sacred forest on the east side of town. It's known as 'Gwaeron's Slumber', after the god of tracking and servant of Mielikki. Townsfolk claim he comes here often.
None recognize the name of Shan, but do recall a dwarven woman with tales of a cloud giant attack.
Well, I got you here, as agreed. But if it's the same to you, I'd like to keep traveling with you. This whole giant business bothers me, and I want to find out what's going on.
If they agree, Jysson would like to accompany Sohar to the grove. He's content to wait to visit it until after the business with the dwarf is over.
At some point, he also heads to some of the rougher places in town - the tavern visited by only the strongest of men: the hunters and the trappers. These are his type of people, and he's here to see if he can find out more.
You enter the Triboar Arms, whose tables are shadier than thick undergrowth in late summer. Despite this, the glowing red eyes of the tiefling bartender track you casually as you approach the bar. Drying a mug with a long dark green cloth, he offers a fanged grin before "What do you take, wanderer?" his voice a buzzing whisper.
Nearby a half-elf woman relaxes in her chair, juggling a small skinning blade.
"Careful now, Nemyth." she intones "You've got an elf of the woodlands coast before you."
The tiefling raises an eyebrow.
Thanks, he says to the half-elf.
Mead. Or wine. It's hot out, so a white.
He places down a few coins extra on the bar, Tell me what's going on around here. Tell me of the giants.
Unstopping a dark bottle, Nemyth pours a tall glass of clear wine "Giant attacks aren't new around here, but the frequency is different. Something's stirred them up. They aren't acting normal either, if there is such a thing, there's infighting...hill's attacking cloud's for example. That's never happened."
The half-elf adds "Reports from all around us. Triboar's been spared, gods know why. But even that's a curse, seems the Uthgardt's and ogres are flocking here for sanctuary...that ain't gonna do."
Nemyth continues "Get travelers from all over here, its not a local problem. Had a trapper down from Icewind, said he jumped from town to town, nearly missing attacks every time. Daggerford was also hit hard, I hear."
Yeah. I hear ya. Hills attacked my tribe. Then a cloud offered us a ride to here. We heard from the cloud that other clouds were attacking towns and taking some sort of rock.
"Took a rock, you say? Now that's odd. Foehammer was talking about excavations at some of the other sites, too. Eh, he's the local giant expert...dwarf smithy, know his work?" he slides a sheathed fine knife across the table, the smith's rune set just below the hilt. "He's trained quite a few of us over the years in giant tactics, used to gather militias in the Marshaling Field every other month...somethin' of an obsession for him."
Jysson grabs the knife and inspects the blade.
Thank you. I will seek him out.
He sets the knife on the counter and heads back to his allies to tell them of what he has learned.
Gloriana is glad to be back on the ground and the sound of mugs clinking only makes her realize just how thirsty she is for ale and beer. But Sohar is right; first things first.
So how do we find Odan's family? Are there dwarves in Triboar who might know them?