Last we left our heroes, they were strategizing the attack on Riverband. Once they felt their plan was solid, a trek was taken to the Queen’s chambers.
After initially being told that the queen was indisposed (it is the middle of the day after all), the crew is escorted into her chambers; a stark bathing chamber in dark marble, lit by dim firelight, and empty? Following Havayla’s lead, everyone looks up to see a bedchamber above them, upside down, where the Queen awaits. A small jump and they are floated into reversed gravity to meet with the Sovereign.
The bare bones of their plan explained, Sovereign Granore declares that she will set the Silvershields to march at once so they may attack soon after the Derailer’s sneak attack at dawn. The crew is dismissed to inform Captain Orion of the plan and the war machine is set in motion.
First item off their to-do list, Yevin, his memories now intact, wants to go check an old hiding spot to see if Guinevere is there. Everyone initially agrees, but Wander asks to stay behind; she needs to talk to Stump and Daisy. Ryker and Dorza volunteer to stay with her and together they go to the Kendo School while Havayla, Arunak, and Nathan follow Yevin to the outskirts of the city.
At the base of a tower, Yevin looks up at a ladder and states that he’ll be back. Climbing up, he disappears over top, only to return a moment later, reporting that Guinevere isn’t there and they should head back to the Windwalker.
Arriving at the Kendo School, Wander is bowled over by an excited Daisy: She and Stump are finally betrothed! After a flurry of congratulations, Wander pulls her family aside for a private conversation.
While they wait, Ryker reveals to Dorza that he was able to commune with Sehanine at the temple. They discuss the logistics of putting together a shrine on the WIndwalker as Wander rejoins them, looking noticeably lighter and more confident. Ryker shares his news of newfound deific communication with her as they walk back to the ship.
Back on board, everyone divvies up their remaining hours:
- Ryker goes about doing captain-y things to encourage the crew while he helps with repairs.
- Nathan starts cooking?
- Arunak helps with repairs
- Yevin shares that he did not find Guinevere. Wander sends her a message, but is met with silence.
- Repairs finished, Ryker sets his sights on building the shrine to Moonbow. Havayla sets up word of recall within the space of the shrine.
- Havayla goes to meet with her family. Wander tags along to use the garden outside the library for her own recall spell, since there is nothing on the ship she feels will tie to Knowledge for the purposes of Word of Recall.
At the Gresta household, Havayla is welcomed in for dinner while Wander excuses herself and goes to meditate in the garden. When Havayla comes out so they can return to the ship, Wander dazedly tells Havayla to go ahead; she has some studying to do here and will be back in a few hours.
Prepared for the next-day’s attack, everyone tucks in for the night. They’ll be taking off just before dawn. Wander gets back to the ship a couple hours before takeoff and collapses in her bunk.
Takeoff and the journey occur without issue. The Windwalker is put into stealth-mode just before they come into sight of Riverband and they can see Syrin’s cruiser to the north-west. As they circle the city, there are people at the gates. It appears that the civilians are upset at being locked out of their city by the orcs and elemental guards. Ryker warns Syrin of the potential danger.
The Derailers are called on-deck and they prepare to infiltrate as a shadow looms over them; the ancient green dragon had been high in the sky above. But it changes course and moves to the front gates, unaware of the invisible sky ship.
Wander casts locate person and pinpoints where King Baldus is, just as they see the elementals begin to shift and flicker, losing form, Magic light flashes from the windows. His signal weakens. Havayla casts Windwalk and they fly off the ship, looking for a way in. After brief exploration, they make their way into the castle and to the king’s chambers. Entering and ceasing their mist forms, they find Baldus barely alive in a bedchamber littered with refuse. His elemental tattoos are burned out scars and there is a gaping, black ooze filled wound on his chest.
After restoration and healing, Baldus explains that Skulldrinker had been using him since their first meeting. The Troll has taken his elemental powers and discovered something more, which he ripped out of Baldus’ chest. He points at a teleportation ring, recently used, and passes out. Arunak picks him up as the team moves to the ring. As Yevin prepares to cast Teleport so they can follow Skulldrinker, Ryker is informed that the civilians are under attack. Deciding that Skulldrinker, now in possession of the Feeblemind stone and likely on his way to his base in the Iron Highlands, is the larger threat to the world, they decide to follow, as Ryker orders the ship to meet them in the Iron highlands.
Yevin completes the teleportation cast and they find themselves in a room Ryker recognizes: Skulldrinker’s sanctum. They’re still in Riverband, just another part of the castle. Through the doors they see Skulldrinker himself turn towards them, flanked by two fire elementals. Ryker throws a the locking manacles, but they are absorbed by Skulldrinker’s cloak. Yevin heats the metal on the evil Troll’s body and combat moves into full swing as he casts a necrotic spell against the whole group.
It is quickly found that fire is Skulldrinker’s weakness, but his cloak is catching the spells and projectiles thrown at him. Wander is able to dispel his cloak, but Skulldrinker calls up earth elementals who start to attack and shift the tower, threatening to bring them all down in a shower of stone. After a battle of counter spells and a baboon of distraction summoned by Nathan, Havayla catches him in a firestorm. Enduring the flames, Skulldrinker sees an opening and teleports away once again.
The tower threatening to come down, Aurora, whom Havayla had told to protect Ryker at all costs, decides to do just that and teleports away with Ryker and Wander. Intending to return to the ship, but not realizing it had gone out of range already, they appear in the last place the ship was, 160 feet above ground, just outside the castle. Wander and Aurora plummet to the ground while Ryker floats down unharmed. Picking herself up, Wander casts locate object on Skulldrinker’s staff. He’s still here. Putting her hand on Ryker’s shoulder, she says “Back to the king’s chambers” and Ryker dimension doors them to Baldus’ room just as Skulldrinker is beginning to set his next circle of teleportation.
And that is where we left off, with the most and least sneaky of the group facing off against their enemy, alone. Will the rest of the team reach them in time? Will they be able to keep Skulldrinker from getting away? Will Aurora make it out of the castle grounds unscathed? Is King Baldus dead? We’ll find out next time…