Sailing…Sailing…we are quite insane

Following the directions provided by the bard, the group overlands it to the coast of a vaaaaaaast inland sea. They make contact with a fishing village and obtain directions to a larger port town. There they start what becomes a 3 month tour – interrupted only once by pirates – of the inland sea as they wrap their way around the northern shore and towards the city of Treflamme. There they tour towards a vast mountain range on the border of Aglarond. They climb into the mountains (again) and seek the source of the rod tugging. More triangulation, more climbing and a chance encounter with a juvenile silver dragon, more climbing and an avoided encounter with some flying carpeted elves, and finally the group comes to see a mountaintop fortress surrounded by a plain of cloud-like substance. Some reconnaissance reveals a well guarded fortress – multiple guard towers stocked with cloud giant guards and/or trolls…and a griffon air force…and multiple alarm bells…this should prove to be interesting.
Interesting it is! Invisibly flying group members assault the uppermost guard post under the cover of a silence spell. The trolls are slain and the group quickly assaults its way downward into the fortress. They dispatch a couple of cloud giant sentries and start a major conflagration with a few hundred gallons of oil in the griffon stables before the general alarm is sounded. Throwing caution to the winds – the group presses on – running into stiffening resistance – more cloud giants, ogres hell hounds, leopards, fire giants! Reiza is slain in the pitched battle, but a timely Resurrection returns him to the fray. More battles until even the most optimistic party member suggests that ‘To Flee is Golden’ …and they’re off. Moving at full tilt and utilizing whatever magic seems useful, the group exits the front door of the castle and runs pell-mell through a field of grain…away from the tents and pavilions that are erected around the castle – and towards the edge of the cloud plain, which they promptly jump over….leaving Barada inside the castle.
The invisible Barada utilizes Flying and Gaseous form to navigate the complex. Seeing a group of magic-toting giants, Barada decides that one of them must have the missing piece. He witnesses what appears to be a meet and greet between fire and cloud giants – and what looks to be the makings of a marriage…He skulks about and eventually finds his way into the bridal chamber, where fire giant mom and daughter are getting ready for the ceremony. The object of his quest is in the jewelry box – but he is a gas cloud! Barada decides to try and wait it out, but as it turns out, the item in question is used as a hairpin by the matron of honor! Curses! Quickly transforming into a hawk, the still-invisible bard trails after the bridal party. As the bride and her mother move to greet the guests (mostly giants, but a smattering of humans and even a few elves), Barada seizes the moment. Flying at full speed, he latches onto the hairpin and yanks mightily. It sticks momentarily, and then slides free.
He flees for all he is worth, and though there is some pursuit, it is ineffective at locating a hawk that does not behave in a hawklike manner – hugging the ground and moving at top speed. The group regroups after a few days travel and determines that there is yet another piece that exists, for Barada feels the now familiar pull on his rod.