Storm King's Thunder

Flint is holding where he is for now.

 Ink tells Rip, "Why don't you hang back with Flint - worst case you could cast FLY on the two of you and come save us."

Ink looks at the rope ladder saying, "My parents won't be pleased, but I can't let the two of them go up alone."

"Not that I'm much more help," he finishes with a chuckle. 

"Ok Ink, we will play it your way but if they are foes don't burn my ship down. Also I've a feeling my children are on that ship, if harm befalls them do to you're actions that bug almost eating you will seem a pleasant dream in comparison to what I'll do." Rip delivers the last part with a cheery tone and a smile, but Ink can tell he is dead serious.

Ink replies as he grabs teh rope ladder, "So, what you're saying is "more fireball" (said to the tune of "more cowbell"). 

Marav and Crownsguard manage to climb the 50 feet in the chilly mountain air, where they are helped aboard by several humans, all clad in black leather and wearing masks. The ship is a wooden gondola that has been roped to a huge balloon, and the upper deck is clean and has an impressive looking harpoon gun on a swivel at the  bow. The ship creaks in the wind, but feel solid.

“Greetings adventurers! We come peacefully on behalf of...ah...wait, weren’t there more of you?” The female human who seems to be in charge looks over the side of the ship, and then back to Marav and Crownsguard, obviously disappointed. “I had a whole thing prepared...ugh, hold on,” she tells the two, then calls to the crew member at the helm of the ship, “Laz! Just take us all the way down. I’ll do the speech on the ground.”

She turns back to Marav and Crownsguard, and says breezily, “Sorry about this, it’ll just be a second.” Then she awkwardly avoids eye contact while the ship descends, gazing hard at one of the nearby mountain peaks, as if it is very interesting.

Halfway up the rope ladder, Ink feels the rope ladder lurch as the airship descends.

As the ship floats down, Ink desperately tries to climb the ladder noticing that the side with the ladder may not end up over sturdy ground.  He shouts various curses as he tries to climb up the ladder. 

Ink is able to scramble up the ladder and hop aboard the ship as it touches down, startling a couple of the crew members. 

"Ah...a third one, very good. Let me then speak to you all at once, if you please," says the woman in the black leather mask. There are four others on the top deck, and all five humans are dressed basically the same.

//  Does Ink recognize any iconography that they may be wearing, or the design of the masks? Zhentarim or otherwise? (History Check? 14) //

Quote from Awaypturwpn >>

She turns back to Marav and Crownsguard, and says breezily, “Sorry about this, it’ll just be a second.” Then she awkwardly avoids eye contact while the ship descends, gazing hard at one of the nearby mountain peaks, as if it is very interesting.

 Crownsguard sits politely, “It’s ok, take your time.”

Once the skids come to a rest on the ground beside the causeway, the female leader clears her throat and positions herself in a way that she can address all of you at once.

“Greetings adventures! We come to you peacefully on behalf of Klauth, the Great Dragon of the North! Klauth offers you this vessel and our services as a gift, so that you may cross his vast dominion while avoiding the many perils of the land below. War against the giants is inevitable, but the Great Dragon commands you forge ahead and face your destiny! The ordning of the giants is broken, and they are not united. Slay their leaders, and you may yet prevail. If you succeed in quelling the giant threat, Klauth bids you come to his hidden vale, so that he can reward your bravery.”

She then motions behind her, and says, “As a further token of our good will, we present to you these two children, who were rescued from the clutches of the barbarian hordes. This is but a taste of how our master rewards those who serve him.” Two small halflings are brought up on deck, looking rather dirty and ragged but none worse for the wear. They squint in the bright morning light. Rip recognizes them instantly.

Crownsguard, unaware that the children are Rip’s, claps politely at the speech. He then raises a hand, “Excuse me. Who is Klauth? I have been asleep for... indeterminate... years. I am unfamiliar with him. Also, are you familiar with Iymrith? That is a name I have heard.”

Rip immediately casts fly on himself and rockets to his children. "So there you are, i've been looking all over for you two!"

“Daddy!” They both scream, and rush towards Rip. When Kara touches Rip, there is a little static shock between them. 

Both Rooney and Kara are taken aback by the appearance of Marav and Crownsguard.

The cultist addresses Crownsguard, “Yes, Iymrith, the blue dragon. She and Klauth rarely meet, as they each have their own domains. But you have never heard of Klauth? The Dragon of the North?” She repeats the monicker as if you must have not heard it moments before.

Crownsguard’s blank smiley face stares at her, “No. I have not heard of Klauth, the Dragon of the North. I was buried. Can you tell me about Klauth, the Dragon of the North? Klauth, the Dragon of the North, sounds like an important dragon. Therefore, I would like to learn more of Klauth, the Dragon of the North.“

Awkward Silence

“How rude of me,” says the cultist. ”We know much about you five, but you seem know nothing about us. Klauth is the master of the skies, orc-devourer, the eldest and most powerful of all dragons. His breath can raze a city in moments, and his cunning knows no equal.”

Crownsguard slowly nods will tapping his finger on his stone face, “Mhm. I am mildly concerned about the ‘razing cities’ part. However, continue. Any virtues?”

Ink merely says, "Old Snarl."

Waiting for the cultists to twitch at the nickname, he then continues, "The lord of the Klauthen Vale. He is a red dragon. A very old, ancient perhaps, powerful dragon. The entirety of the vale is his domain - if rumors are true."

"I read about him. In fact, all of us met someone who spoke to the great dragon in person - but it's best to leave names out of stories. I do know he's had a habit, in the past at least, to eat his followers and allies. He is a great dragon indeed."

Then addressing the cultists directly, "What's his gain in helping us?"

"the death of the giant lords i assume, and at minimal cost to him"

The cultists bow in deference. “As we said, this airship is Klauth’s gift to you. You may do what you will; his eminence simply desires to aid you in your efforts. We are at your disposal to operate this vessel, and will take you wherever you wish to travel.”

They seem to have taken Ink’s reference to “Old Snarl” in stride.

“Well that is nice of him.” Crownsguard stands and walks to the woman. He extends a hand, “Thank you. My name is Crownsguard, you collaborative captaineering companion. Hello!”