Following the defeat of the most recent Orcusian attempt to terrorize the world, the group rests at the Immersea complex of Kormier. They bask in the glow of an accomplished mission and drain an extra cup to the memory of the Gal, whose noble sacrifice made it possible to forestall the end of life. Good job Gal. Soanyway – whaddya want to dother about next?

Various ideas are sifted and sorted, including a return to the city of the dead in the jungles just to get in there and root around for any spare coins – but that idea is mostly met with indifference...

After taking a month or so to prepare, the group launches their bid to end the threat of Akruel. A teleportation jaunt brings them to the vicinity and the group camps near the edge of the jungle. Despite the dangerous terrain and homicidal fauna, the group is comfortable in their portable spaces. Over the next few days they move southward and keep an eye out for the ‘boiling cloud of hate’ that dominates the sky over the Sepulchre of the Dead. Once they locate the general area, the Magnificent Malchor takes to the skies with the eagle eyes to take a closer look.

Information is gathered and plans are laid, discarded, unearthed and replanted, burnt down and eventually reconstituted. In the struggle between sneaking and frontal assault, the frontal assault gains the upper hand.

Flying thr...

Pondering a bit more, the group can’t decide whether to investigate the portal to wherever, to investigate the strange machines in the xorn-filled tunnels beneath or to try and crash the flying fortress to remove it as a danger. They start by crashing as many of the smaller islands as possible – excavating or destroying any green gems they find. This leaves a small handful aloft, as well as the castle complex. The debris plummet into the forest blow. Fore!

It is decided that investigating the strange machines may give further clues, so that path is taken. The first machine is guarded by a xorn, but it is swiftly slain. The machine appears to be used to create and send messages in different languages...

A good sleep and the idea to interrogate the corpses returns. The father is absolutely tight-lipped, saying only that he will not speak with assassins. Further inquiries yield nothing. In that case, it is off to survey the courtyard. Malchor spawns a flying head and goes to investigate the well shaft. Flying past the two black puddings lurking behind the crumbling wall, he goes about exploring everything that he can – finding xorn moving through passages, strange crystalline formations and odd machines.
A plundered treasure chamber and more xorn are all that can be found, so he returns to the party. They fire up the puddings and launch into a whirlwind tour of the remaining portions of the castle left unexplored...

After folding the monkmage into the party mix, it is decided to visit Kormier. After he stops laughing at Malchor the Magnificent’s new worldview he agrees that the Gal would be a good addition to the party as they cast about for ways to be good and profitable at the same time.

Eventually they settle on a hazard to the local trade routes as a way to benefit the many whilst possibly enriching the few. Making the journey is uneventful and upon arrival they quickly spot the item of interest – a flying castle surrounded by lumps of flying rock that in some cases carry remnants of structures upon them.
Some flying to investigate brings them into conflict with the many wyverns that have taken residence in the flying rock slabs and it is a matter of using the crown’s powers to support the party...