*Minor retcon occurred before the cloud giant castle appeared*
While the group slept, Landis was visited by Helm with some visions. The phoenix was once pure and holy, but now corrupt. Giant figures combating the holy symbols of the group’s deities. A message of a strange opportunity to save time by flying to their destination.
Once the group is awake and together again, Landis lets the group know his vision and what it could mean. The symbol that was corrupting the Phoenix was foreign to Landis, but with Arianna’s and the group’s help, they discovered it was the symbol of Asmodeus. The cleric then cast Sacred Flame to burn the paper Landis drew the symbol on. These visions give Pyro some heavy thoughts to ponder, and he goes off alone for a bit to pray, both to Asmodeus and to the Phoenix, to seek clarity and guidance. He receives a cryptic yet comforting message back from the Phoenix, in a way he has not felt in many many years.
Shortly after the discussion and subsequent prayers relating to the vision, a flying castle topped with a giant wizard’s pointed hat appeared, and seemed to ‘park’ outside of Nightstone. Naturally, the group and the remaining townsfolk all began to fear yet another tragedy. Steps made entirely of cloud-stuff began to descend from the castle, and a cloud giant wizard appeared out of the castle and introduced himself as Zephyros. He claimed he was told to come and take the group to where they needed to go.
Most of the group wasskeptical at first, but eventually all but Arianna decided its for the best. Arianna begrudgingly followed this group she’s grown fond of, in the hopes that she can keep them safe.
Along the journey, they learn a bit about Zephyros and why he does what he does: he receives messages he believes are from the giant god’s, and wishes to see the violence and raiding that his kinsmen has started doing to end. He informed the group that the Ordoning has been destroyed, throwing the balance of power between the giants into disarray as they compete to be at the top.
Dot inquires about a book from Zephyros’s library, and Zephyros brought Dot a book of his own pen, describing the Ordoning in detail. Landis shares his vision from Helm with Zephyros, who mentioned the name Iymirth, a terrible, ancient blue dragon of legend, and if shes involved, things could be worse than he thought. For the rest of that day, he kept to himself on the upper floor of the castle.
The next day, they continue traveling through the air, not quite as fast as you’d think a flying castle could go. Arianna inquired about a kitchen where she could make her Uncle Corrin’s cinnamon rolls, and he says he should have all the ingredients, but unfortunately the pan he has would be too big for Arianna to even carry, let alone bake with. He suggested she guide him through the steps, and what do you know, they created the biggest cinnamon rolls the world has even seen, and they tasted just like Uncle Corrin’s legendary recipe. Each roll weighed in at about 300lbs, about 100lbs of that being icing. Somehow the group managed to collectively eat about a quarter of one of the rolls over a few meals, and subsequently tpk’d to diabetes…just kidding, but man they ate a lot.
On the third day, a group of cultists riding on giant vultures arrived. Of the 9 cultists, two seemed in charge, and introduced themselves as Amarath and N’von. The wished to speak with Zephyros, and Zephyros, not being one to pass up possible allies in this journey to fix the giants’ issues, obliged and listened. Amarath asked for Zephyros to help the Howling Hatred and the Prince of Evil Air, Yan-C-Bin. Zephyros pondered this, and got some input from the characters, but ultimately turned them down. They leave, muttering about Zephyros being a fool.
On the fourth day, Zephyros has a fit and is incomprehensible, so the party spent the day alone while Zephyros staid upstairs muttering to himself.
On the fifth day, the group realized that they should have easily made it to Goldenfields already. They questioned Zephyros, wary that he’s misleading them. He asked if he had a fit upstairs, and he then explained that he must have messed with the controls, and somehow they’re a few days off course now. He got the castle to turn around, and they begin to head back.
On the sixth day, they heard crackling thunder, despite clear skies, and upon looking outside, they noticed a young-ish blue dragon carrying a few kobolds, heading straight towards the castle!