"We still don't know how we were brought here," Honor says, avoiding the direct discussion of the gods.

Leto nods as Honor speaks, "We mostly know the why, but yes, the how would be good to know. If for no other reason so that we can prevent it happening again." He then looks around to those gathered and adds, "Though I am curious now as to what your all goals are here. Obviously we still feel this pull... which leads us to our former power and knowledge. But after that. Do you hope to return home?"

Caradran snickers, "Wouldn't you love to know."

Leto simply sighs and rolls his eyes, looking back to the more mature members of the group.

Caradran follows up, this time with a hint of curiosity gleaming through her emerald eyes, "I have a better question. Why do you trust each other?" She points to each of them in turn as she speaks, "Kierro I understand. I can even understand Naivara or Honor. But the rest of you? These are people that have tried to kill you in the past and would likely do so in the blink of an eye if they didn't need you. How can you possibly trust them with anything other than the bare necessities?"

Leto looks back, and not trying to hide his annoyance, replies, "It seems that you speak only the hear the sound of your own voice, for the questions you ask are things to which you already know the answers. We travel together because, as we all know, in order for any of us to advance or learn what happened to our lives, all of us must advance. Trust has little to do with it. Our goals simply align. Though I will admit it has been interesting, and at times even amusing, traveling with this group." Pausing only briefly he then adds, "Speaking of trust, of everyone here it is you that I trust the least. How many times, and behind how many faces, did we meet you since arriving on this plane until you finally decided your 'game' was finished and to show us this face? At least the rest of us here are known actors."

Caradran shakes her head, "I agree that we all have to advance together for now. But you asked about our future plans. In order for one to be willing to share their future endeavors, there must be some measure of trust between them. The same way that two business partners would not discuss their future plans with each other unless they directly involved the other, I am just curious how you thought the others would respond to your original question."

"With regards to your doubts," as Cardran continues their eyes flash the red of Ing, baby blue of Adam, deep brown of Raskal, green with golden flecks for Esmerelda, and finally an endless gray for Bethesda before returning to their natural emerald state. "Trusting me would be foolish if you knew who I was. Only one problem; when I want you to trust me, you won't know that it's me that you're trusting. I agree that I am a suspicious and careful person, hence the variety of previous disguises. I would, however, ask you to reconsider whether the rest of you are known actors. I don't doubt that you are more forthright than me, a pretty low bar to set, but each of you likely has your own secrets to keep. If you shared all of your secrets with the rest of the group, then you are more foolish than I had originally thought."

Caradran gives a challenging look to Leto, but also quickly glances around the room to gauge the reaction of the other dragonlords to her statement.

Insight: 25
Psionic Dice: 4

Naivara seems to be stripping a branch of its berries, placing them into a pouch as she did so. When it was full, she tucks the branch away before offering it to Palvin and Gentleheart, then the rest of the dragons. "Um... I dont know when the last time you all ate was," she says cautiously. "This should help... my mom taught me the spell before... all this."

From the way she avoida eye contact and sits about as far away as she can get from Caradan while still being able to participate in the conversation its clear Niavara doesnt trust him at all.

Palvin gives Naivara a smile of thanks as he accepts the berry. "We do not need to eat as often as some other beings, but we do need to eat a lot when we do so." He replies to the unasked question. "We take turns to seek out a meal when it is needful, usually by hunting in the water beneath us." He hands the bag on to Ymephis, without taking a berry for himself. "I found a nice shark yesterday to dine upon, so am good for a bit still."

Ymephis accepts the bag, but hands it on to the next dragon. "I eat less than these others." She explains with a glance to the other dragons. "My kind are just fine with human-sized meals, and I cooked breakfast for the entire troop this morning, remember."

Yrsaintinth still stands as a statue on the cloud land outside the keep. He has not moved fromt hat spot in the days since the giant attack.

Fraty walks into the chamber, from outside, looking pleased. "You should see all of the little playthings in the water below us." She says with a grin to the room at large. "Seems the water is simply filled with those coming to keep us from reaching our destination." She chuckles softly as she picks something from between her human teeth. "A few made a good snack, but too bad they can't actually reach us up here."

Chysen glances to the Chaos dragon in concern, then strides out of the chamber. Those watching see him transform into his dragon form and leap skyward. He is gone for some time, returning within the hour though.

Emmy also glances to Fraty. "I sure hope you saved some for me." She says, as she too heads out and transforms into her dragon form.

Higgul Looks to Caradran. "If you are so distrusting of this group, then by all means go your own way." He offers with a frown. He glances to the other lords in the chamber. "This group is walking a knife's edge already, we don't need someone like you trying to stirr things up even more between us."

"Oh come on Hig, that is part of what makes this so fun." Morgan says from near Leto's side. "Add some drama to the trip, otherwise it would just be boring... Fly a bit, cut down some of those sent to stop us, fly some more... Add drama to that, otherwise it is just the same old same old." He chuckles as he digs back into a plate of food in front of him.

Kierro replies to Leto's first question after a moment of consideration. "As much as this world is growing on me, I imagine I am meant to return home and continue my efforts there. Still, I do plan on being of help here as long as I can."

His expression saddens a bit as he hears Caradran. "We've known each other, at least partially, throughout our past lives. We've also been in this world, mostly together, for a while now. I suppose that's part of why I trust the rest of us to an extent - I know what the rest of us are capable of, when they can and cannot be reliable, regardless of what views are shared or otherwise. Plus, I find it easier for people to trust me - and therefore easier to help them - when I trust them. Foolish, perhaps, but it's what I've always lived by."

To her final statement, Caradran can see Kierro shake his head slowly. He keeps few if any secrets.

 When Chysen returns, Kierro excuses himself briefly and heads outside. "Is everything alright? I heard Fratty mention things below sent to stop us. How bad is it?"

Honor crosses her arms. "And as I said before, betray me and reap the consequences. I've worked with many that some here would object to --" she tilts her head towards Kierro "-- but not without reason, and not without the understanding that betraying me and mine brings down not only my wrath and that of my allies, but a promise of no future aid. My network of allies is not so large here, but then neither is anyone else's. As Leto said, for now there must be cooperation. Which means that any one of us can leave if someone else isn't playing nice."

The gold dragon nods to Kierro. "The water is filled with all sorts of things." He says with a sad look in his eyes. "Sharks, Marrow, and more. If we were sailing a ship, I fear the ship would be destroyed fairly quickly. As it is, there are not many creatures of the sea that can reach us up here."

"Good eating though." Emmy adds in, landing and shifting her form from dragon to lythe human female. She grins to the gold dragon, then skips inside.

I'll be moving things along here soon, so please post anything else you wish your characters to do in the few days of downtime they have before the next item comes up.

Nadariel would fly up to Ive in the evening and they would try to scry on the escaped cloud giant. (Landing on top of the highest tower for safety reasons if necessary)

Kierro looks puzzled. "I can't begin to understand that. We are above the clouds, far from the ocean. Storms and monstrous sea creatures would do nothing from down there. Why inconvenience or endanger anyone who happens to be sailing nearby when they aren't even involved with us?"

"They want us dead. The gods have little care about who they harm along the way, as long as they achieve that goal." Kyrian says with a sigh

"I question if they know we are flying." Chysen responds to Kierro. "Yes the Storm Giants found us and attacked, but why send all of these others, who cannot even reach us up here." He shakes his head. "Makes no sense if they knew we were in a flying castle." He stares out at the sky around for a bit, then looks back to Kierro. "The problem is that this is the gods we are speking of, how couldn't they know we were in a flying castle?" He looks very concerned and a bit out of his depts at this. This likely the first time Kierro has seen the gold dragon rattled.

 "Possibly it's a curse of some sort," Honor ventures. "With a radius large enough to also reach the ocean. Or they're anticipating us needing to leave for more supplies."

The days go by as you continue your travel South and East across the Sea of Swords. The storm clouds below you continue to roil and churn, with no sign of abaiting. Those who try to scry the storm giant from before, locates it back near where you fought it previously, with it staying put and not coming after you. You soon put it out of your thoughts and continue towards your goal.

On the day following the Storm Giant's attack, the dragons report many sahuagin in the water below. The next day it is a large patrol of Merrow. Sharks and other sea life are also in abundant supply as the water is fairly full of threats below. On the third day the dragonns report the ocean free of creatures, but that is understandable as a large whirlpool has appeared below the clouds.

On the fourth day after the Storm Giant attack though you spot several small shapes flitting through the air ahead, most trying to stay somewhat hidden in the storm clouds below, but also clearly watching the flying castle as they approach. Those on lookout quickly recognize them as harpies.

Anything you wish to be doing as they approach?

Have we managed to train enough on the ballistae/etc for Higgul to be able to use them? Has Honor been able to fashion anything approaching a harness for riding on Emmy?