Bandits, Betrayal, and Shadows

The party surveyed the airship wreck suspended sixty feet between two colossal forest trees. The faint smell of cooking wafted down on the cold wind, and a flickering torch in the crow’s nest indicated it was inhabited. As they approached, they noted a horse tied beneath the western tree, a figure descending from the crow’s nest, and gun turrets on both flanks, one of which housed a cannon. Suddenly, YukonYukonYukon has ranged the cloud-skies longer than most crew members have been alive. He is self-reliant, quietly amused by nearly everything, an… heard a faint unnatural wind chime, but before he could warn the others, a crossbow bolt struck Lucien in the neck, dropping him into the snow and signaling the start of an ambush. Chaos erupted as YukonYukonYukon has ranged the cloud-skies longer than most crew members have been alive. He is self-reliant, quietly amused by nearly everything, an… and Eloise came under fire from a shadowy figure on the top deck, while Cal triggered traps beneath the airship, narrowly avoiding explosions. Meanwhile, Oz invoked his invisibility to press forward, determined to reach the wreck.

A seven-foot-wide belly porthole slid open beneath the hull, unleashing a torrent of Ochre Jelly that lashed out at Oz, who staggered backward. Thorned living vines erupted from the ship's hull, ensnaring both Cal and Oz as they struggled against their bindings. ZindleZindleZindle is the crew's bard, unofficial historian, and self-appointed morale officer. He knows a song for every occasion and isn't shy about…, his demeanor shifted to urgency, whispered dark incantations, sending a violet shimmer into the jelly, causing it to convulse violently and splinter into countless smaller jellies that dissipated. The party rushed to Oz's side, with DeicidaDeicidaDeicida is a protector because protection is the only shape his penance can still take. Once the consecrated Sentinel of the Argent Temple,… placing a healing hand upon him to stabilize him. As the vines retreated, the chaos continued, with the party desperately trying to free their friends from the relentless assault of the jelly and the deadly rain of javelins from above.

Seizing the moment as the severed vines retreated, Cal sprang forward, climbing a thick vine that led him toward the upper branches of the trees. He discovered that the branches formed a hidden path into the porthole, a thieves’ access route into the airship's hideout. With a burst of athletic grace, he hurled a distraction through the opening and vaulted inside, landing in the dank cargo hold, a chamber littered with refuse and bones. Spotting a rope ladder secured to iron loops in the floor, he kicked it free, sending it dropping out the portal for his allies below. As he prepared to face the foes lurking in the shadows, the rest of the party gathered below, ready to ascend.

As Cal vaulted into the dank cargo hold of the airship, a hulking man-raven with matted feathers and a crude eyepatch lunged at him with a deafening screech, wrapping its powerful arms around him in a crushing grapple. A smaller kenku, with slicked feathers and awkwardly strapped wooden wings, scrambled away in panic toward a ladder beneath the ceiling hatch. The larger creature ignored the frantic pleas of its companion, focusing solely on Cal. Below, the rest of the party prepared to ascend the rope ladder, unaware of the danger awaiting Cal in the hold.

As the larger creature continued its rampage, Oz seized the smaller kenku, dragging him toward the open porthole and threatening to drop him into the frozen darkness below. The smaller creature trembled, stammering out his name: Clemens "GearwhistleGearwhistleGearwhistle communicates entirely through mimicry — clicks, whistles, and perfectly replicated phrases — but his craftsmanship speaks loudl…" Brackle. The party slowly earned his trust, especially after Oz spared him more than once. GearwhistleGearwhistleGearwhistle communicates entirely through mimicry — clicks, whistles, and perfectly replicated phrases — but his craftsmanship speaks loudl… revealed that the party had killed his older brother, Talon "Nine" Brackle, and hinted at a lifetime of abuse from him and their other siblings. He warned the party not to climb through the upper porthole, insisting that his remaining brothers, their mother, and a human named "GandalarGandalarA piper bard who posed as a kindly elder wizard at The Eagle and Child, then murdered Brother Maynard and robbed the party before being tra…" lay in wait above, before leading them to a secret passage into the heart of the wreck.

As the hulking creature lunged at Cal, wrapping him in a crushing embrace, ZindleZindleZindle is the crew's bard, unofficial historian, and self-appointed morale officer. He knows a song for every occasion and isn't shy about… HessHessHess has spent most of his very long life in libraries. The Zephyr's Oath is the first interesting thing to happen to him in decades, and h… and DeicidaDeicidaDeicida is a protector because protection is the only shape his penance can still take. Once the consecrated Sentinel of the Argent Temple,… unleashed a barrage of spells that battered the monster from all sides. The creature, wounded and enraged, released a horrific scream—a chorus of death cries stolen from every being it had ever slain—that shattered Cal’s nerve, sending him fleeing to cower in a filthy cot. Just as YukonYukonYukon has ranged the cloud-skies longer than most crew members have been alive. He is self-reliant, quietly amused by nearly everything, an… hauled himself up the rope ladder, the creature turned to charge, but Oz swiftly countered with a blast of eldritch energy that tore into the beast. The monster's body collapsed inward, dissolving into a grotesque slurry of broken bones, rotting sinew, and feathers that slumped lifelessly across the deck. With the threat ended, the party could finally focus on the trembling smaller creature, Clemens "GearwhistleGearwhistleGearwhistle communicates entirely through mimicry — clicks, whistles, and perfectly replicated phrases — but his craftsmanship speaks loudl…" Brackle, who stammered out his name amidst the aftermath.

GandalarGandalarA piper bard who posed as a kindly elder wizard at The Eagle and Child, then murdered Brother Maynard and robbed the party before being tra…, known as "GandalarGandalarA piper bard who posed as a kindly elder wizard at The Eagle and Child, then murdered Brother Maynard and robbed the party before being tra…," burst into the sleeping area, his feet slipping on the greased floor as he vaulted over it with unnatural agility. He pummeled YukonYukonYukon has ranged the cloud-skies longer than most crew members have been alive. He is self-reliant, quietly amused by nearly everything, an… into unconsciousness. The party quickly rallied to heal YukonYukonYukon has ranged the cloud-skies longer than most crew members have been alive. He is self-reliant, quietly amused by nearly everything, an… while surrounding GandalarGandalarA piper bard who posed as a kindly elder wizard at The Eagle and Child, then murdered Brother Maynard and robbed the party before being tra…. As GandalarGandalarA piper bard who posed as a kindly elder wizard at The Eagle and Child, then murdered Brother Maynard and robbed the party before being tra… lunged forward, Cal hurled a chair into his legs, causing him to stumble, and then drove his shortsword clean through GandalarGandalarA piper bard who posed as a kindly elder wizard at The Eagle and Child, then murdered Brother Maynard and robbed the party before being tra…’s chest. GandalarGandalarA piper bard who posed as a kindly elder wizard at The Eagle and Child, then murdered Brother Maynard and robbed the party before being tra…'s bloodied body slid down the slick stairs.

As the battle raged on, Ma’am Brackle, the enormous, one-eyed kenku matriarch, emerged from the staircase, her voice a deep rasping cry of "My boys!" Thorny vines erupted from the floor, ensnaring ZindleZindleZindle is the crew's bard, unofficial historian, and self-appointed morale officer. He knows a song for every occasion and isn't shy about… and unleashing a concussive wave that knocked both ZindleZindleZindle is the crew's bard, unofficial historian, and self-appointed morale officer. He knows a song for every occasion and isn't shy about… and YukonYukonYukon has ranged the cloud-skies longer than most crew members have been alive. He is self-reliant, quietly amused by nearly everything, an… unconscious, sending Cal crashing against the wall. She transformed into a massive dire raven, her elongated talons and beak radiating dark power that stirred painful memories in DeicidaDeicidaDeicida is a protector because protection is the only shape his penance can still take. Once the consecrated Sentinel of the Argent Temple,…. The party, battered and exhausted, watched as the monstrous form of their foe loomed over them, only to be hurled back down the hatch by Cal, crashing into the lower hold in a storm of feathers and bone, finally silencing the matriarch.

In the dimly lit captain’s quarters, the party uncovered a trove of valuable items amidst the remnants of battle. They found a finely crafted set of Imperial chain armor and a rapier, alongside a detailed map of the Cradlewood Forest that marked secret paths to Vos and Monte-de-Amour. A bookshelf revealed several noteworthy volumes, including Arnos’s Aviation Compendium, Imperial War Manual IX–XXI, and a guide on arcane propulsion and aetherflow. Among the fallen, they discovered a small purse bearing a green dragon emblem, which contained an extradimensional space filled with stolen goods, including a black tome with gold bindings. The party continued to gather these treasures and clues from the ship's former captain's domain.

Among GandalarGandalarA piper bard who posed as a kindly elder wizard at The Eagle and Child, then murdered Brother Maynard and robbed the party before being tra…’s possessions, the party uncovered a small purse adorned with a green dragon emblem. Inside, they found an extradimensional space containing a black tome with gold bindings, a unicorn-shaped wand, and one hundred platinum pieces. Additionally, a chest marked with the letter 'G' lay within the purse. This discovery followed an encounter with a monstrous raven, prompting the party to explore the captain's quarters of the wrecked airship. As they sifted through the remnants, the treasures revealed both wealth and the legacy of Commodore Brigantine.

Behind a heavy curtain in the captain’s quarters, the party uncovered a grotesque nest constructed from the ship’s double bed. At its base lay the corpse of a woman with long curly red hair, who had recently given birth, and at the center of the nest was her Infant Daughter, surrounded by trinkets and radiating dark pulsing energy. ZindleZindleZindle is the crew's bard, unofficial historian, and self-appointed morale officer. He knows a song for every occasion and isn't shy about… snatched the child just as she stirred and began to cry. DeicidaDeicidaDeicida is a protector because protection is the only shape his penance can still take. Once the consecrated Sentinel of the Argent Temple,… stepped forward, soothing the infant with his otherworldly presence.

As the storm cleared, the party sought shelter in Vos, sealing entry points and resetting traps around the Tempest Nineteen Crash Site. GearwhistleGearwhistleGearwhistle communicates entirely through mimicry — clicks, whistles, and perfectly replicated phrases — but his craftsmanship speaks loudl… agreed to repair the Aetherflow engine and urged them to find Professor Benjamin BellBenjamin BellA wizened gnome teacher at the Vos Wizardry School who repeatedly outfitted and guided the party on Resistance missions, including the jail… at the Vos Wizarding School. Oz attempted to reach out to his father’s old friend, the gnome artificer Zook, using a magical stone, but received no reply. With their preparations complete, the group set out through the snow-laden Cradlewood Forest, the sensation of being watched lingering as Cal scouted ahead, noting deer tracks circling their campsite. On the second day, the forest opened to reveal Vos, a tranquil town nestled by a lake, but shouts erupted from the southern shore, signaling trouble ahead.