At first, you just hear a faint roaring sound, like a campfire burning down for the night. It slowly gets louder even as the light becomes discernible which is what finally calls your attention to the source: a flying ship approaching the castle!

It's not just any ship... not just any flying ship... while the overall design isn't recognizable to anyone, the giant ring of fire that encircles the ship amidships gets everyone's attention. The light and sound never get too great, but it's also hard not to notice.

That ring of fire extending below the hull would seem to prevent it from landing, and that is the case as it maneuvers near the wall.

"There you are! Anshegar said I'd find you here!" the man behind the wheel calls down to you.

"I'm Captain Zume of the Ring of Fire! I need six of you to join me! If you are interested, quick, grab your gear and jump aboard! We have to stop the Sky from Falling!"


OOC: a picture of the ship is in Game Map #3.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:42, Tue 04 Apr 2023.

Sala was torn, as the quest to recover Nemeia's mind was important to him. But the chance to be aboard such a construct was overwhelming. As an artificer at heart, he knew that he just had to see the inner workings of the ship.

"If you'll consider me worthy, I would love to jump aboard," he said.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:11, Tue 04 Apr 2023.

Axia's eyes went wide at the ring of fire's appearance. This was indeed quite the vessel and while she wasn't to keen about being in the air without some sort of safety net she was intrigued. "I'll join you Captain, if you'll have me." Her words seemed to hold more meaning than they would first appear, but if nothing else they were sincere.

"Captain, wha threatens tha sanctity o tha sky?"

"Then jump, fools!" the captain yells back. "Ain't got time for questions!"

Sala jumps as best as he can, trying to grab whatever he needed to make the jump onto the ship.

Broson will clap his uncle on the shoulder. "Uncle, I'm so happy I found yer breathin. Travel safe, tell tha brothers o our silver mother there be work fer me oot here yet but I'll return as soon as I can. Please wait fer me before yer jump inter the next adventure!" Scrabbling and climbing to the best stretch of wall he will leap to board the ring of fire.

He already had a few personal quests floating around in the back of his mind, and returning the relics to Hai Kragerak seemed the best way to fulfill some of them.

But, no, the Cat Lord had another idea! Was it really all that insatiable?

At the last minute, his curiosity got the better of him. With a series of bounding leaps, he was up to the castle wall, over to the high section, and then one more to carry him to the ship. There were ropes and people on the ship to keep him from falling off.

Soon, the wind from the flying ship was ruffling his fur in a most delightful way.

"Mrrreow," he had to get out before turning to the others. "Made it! So, what do you think we've gotten ourselves into?"

"Weel, tha humans have a chicken tha lets them know tha sky is fallin... mebbe one o the golden apples o Elysium fell and kings ave mobilised all forces ter seize it fer thamselves."

No sooner does the flying ship clear the castle and the forest than it tips upward at a sharp angle and increases speed.

It takes about an hour before something other than night sky and dark clouds comes into sight: a flying castle! A minute later the flying iceberg emerges from behind the castle. It soon becomes apparent that the iceberg is chasing the castle.

Then you notice that the iceberg has a ring around it, too, only this one is made of icy blue flames.

"That's Sky Castle, though most just call it Sky," Captain Zume explains as the wind takes on a howling sound. "Frost Jarl Storm Falling wants the castle's treasure and will destroy it to get it... even if it means bashing the castle into the mountains and looting the ruins."

"First, the hi-maulers on the berg, then Falling on the bridge, then we clean up the hammer-locks at the castle. Easy-peasy!"
This message was last updated by the player at 04:32, Thu 06 Apr 2023.

"Is this Jarl a frost or storm giant? Wha manner o beasties does he lead? Wha magic makes an iceberg fly? Jus thinkin it mebbe easier ter kill tha magic then kill tha jarl."

Stonecrow had been a bit quiet when he followed some of the others to their destination. Part of his journey out of the monastery to see and experience new things - and a flying ship was definitely something new. And flying, anyway, was kind of a secret thing he always wished for.

A flying ship...on fire? He frowned. That...seemed odd. It was a bit loud also but he tried to ignore that.

He boarded with the rest, quickly, not wanting to be left behind.

And to add to new experiences, there was a flying castle as well! And a...flying...iceberg? Okay, maybe he had just been stuck inside too long. He quietly asked his companions, "Is it...usual for there to be so many...magical flying things like this?"

"You sure ask a lot of questions! What makes you think I go the kind of answers?"Zume replies.

"Don't know that he's a giant at all, but he is big for a barbarian."

"The hi-maulers are four-armed barbarians that use mauls in battle. The hammer-heads are just tough battle axe wielders."

"Without knowing magic, I'd think it'd be a lot tougher. Don't know as I'd say flying things are all that common, but now that you point it out, I can see what you are saying. Never gave it much thought before. That's just the way it is up here in the north mountains."

"Sometimes, flying is just easier than climbing up one mountain and down the next. 'Course, if you like that sort of thing..."

"There we go! Count a dozen hi-maulers patrolling the ice field! You ready to get nasty?"

"I prefer to avoid unnecessary bloodshed where possible, but I do have the ability to hurl flames from afar if needed." says Sala.

Stonecrow listened and blinked a bit slowly, leaning back slightly. Four-armed barbarians? That didn't sound like fun. That sounded like he was going to get beat up a lot. He restrained a sigh, adjusting the spider mask on his face.

"Is the plan to hang back and shoot them? I doubt they are going to just stand around. All I have is a crossbow."

The ship swoops low over the icy landscape and slows as the captain and the rest of his men leap overboard and charge into melee with the four-armed  enemy.

That answers your questions!

OOC: Can I shoot a firebolt at the four armed enemies?

Stonecrow shook his head and gave a shrug, but then followed right after the captain and crew. He didn't scream or let out a war cry or anything. He was eerily silent as he bounded down towards the four-armed barbarians, eyeing and heading towards one in particular. His staff lead the way.

As the crew charge forward Broson will quickly bless Stonecrow, Sala and Star of the morning. He will then follow Stone crow into battle, as close behind him as his 30ft movement speed will allow.
"Didnae expect this when I woke this morning, this is better! For the mother!"

OOC: Bless gives an extra 1d4 on attack rolls and saving throws

OOC: FYI--Generally, unless I specifically ask for an Initiative check, the characters will have initiative due to circumstances or conditions. I also tend to go by posting order unless someone's actions might preclude that.


You can make ranged attacks on the enemy as long as you are within range, though ranged attacks from a flying ship are at Disadvantage. The four-armed barbarians don't appear to be wielding any ranged weapons, though, you have the initiative over them.

They are clearly protecting the ground rather than guarding the aerial space above it.

When attacking, you can make a flying leap attack onto one of them, the old 'death from above' tactic, that will give you Advantage but may leave you vulnerable to a return attack.

The rocky, icy terrain is treacherous, making it Difficult Terrain, slowing movement to half.

Stonecrow did not make a flying leap. While that seemed like fun, it also seemed dangerous. And he wasn't sure how skilled and tough these enemies were yet. He had had trouble with enemies of late, or perhaps it was his skill that was lacking. He was not currently instilled with a bounty of self-confidence.

So he made his way to the one of the creatures engaged by the crew and tried to help them, swinging out with his quarterstaff and then with a follow-up kick - but like a self-fulfilling prophecy, he had doubted himself and then missed wildly with both of his attacks.

10:19, Today: Stonecrow rolled 7,11,7,8 using d20+6,d8+4,d20+6,d4+4 with rolls of 1,7,1,4.  Quarterstaff and Martial Arts.

Sala kept things simple, throwing out a fire bolt at his enemy from a distance.

08:42, Today: Sala Menes rolled 12 using 2d10 with rolls of 7,5.  Damage. – 12
08:41, Today: Sala Menes rolled 18 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 11.  Fire Bolt. – 18

"Fire at Will!" Broson will extend his hand and release three scorching rays, agreeing with Sala that his target looks like a Will. The first two shots are reasonably on target, the third one kind of makes a pfffft sound as it fades into a nearby rock, barely blackening it.

<OOC: Sorry for the absence guys - a new role at work has me a bit busy cleaning up someone else's mess.>

Nyssia looked on at the enemies with a smirk, and spoke softly as words traveled. "Blockheads....you couldn't hit a tarrasque if it sat on you!"

---

<OOC: Action - Casts visious mokery at the closest enemy

Nyssia rolled 5 using 2d4 with rolls of 3,2.

DC wis save 14 or take 5 Psychic damage and have disadvantage on next attack>