SKT Session 14 (4/4/23): Another Castle in the Sky

The party looked to the sky and sees a castle similar to one they've seen before. However, upon close inspection, they were able to discern that this castle was not Lyn Armaal. The townsfolk around them were in a panic, with guards trying to calm as many people down as possible.

"Please remain calm! The Lady is dispensing soldiers as we speak to inspect the floating castle!"

While unsure of how to help at first, the party decided that they could bring their giant knowledge to the Open Lord of Waterdeep, Lady Silverhand, and, in exchange, get some information from her about the magical augmentation operations in Waterdeep.

On the way towards Piergeiron's Palace, where the Lady hosted her visitors, Adonis wanted to make a quick stop at the Spires of the Morning, Waterdeep's temple of Lathander. Inside the temple was a great stained glass mosaic depiction of Lathander holding up a baby. In front of the mosaic, Adonis knelt to the ground and began to pray.

"O Lathander, by whose hand the sun's glory passes each day, I beseech thee, divest thyself and grant me healing and guidance in these dark hours..."

After a while with no answer, Adonis cried out and struck the floor, exacerbated. His God had not answered him. Getting up to turn away, he felt a hand on his shoulder, turning him back towards the mosaic. Shining bright, the depiction was no longer of Lathander, but instead showed a thri-kreen holding a thri-kreen child. It was Adonis himself depicted in the holy art. Blinking, the vision reverted into the original image, and Adonis found he could take one, clean, deep breath.

Leaving the temple, the party found their way to Piergeiron's Palace, where they requested an audience with Lady Silverhand. Claiming to have expertise on giants, they were quickly let up to a meeting room within the palace. Lady Silverhand sat at the head of the meeting table, with four other lords sitting nearby in deep discussion with her. They explained their connection to giants and experience with cloud giants and the Lady agreed to have them accompany her to the castle. The other lords were visibly frustrated, but the Lady's words were final. After hearing Adonis explain why he was in Waterdeep, she agreed to share more information with the party about magical augmentations in her city.

Lady Silverhand sat atop a griffon with her knight behind her. Three other griffons were provided to the party to follow her up towards the castle. In the castle were a group of friendly cloud giants who quickly explained they just wanted to map Waterdeep. They had reason to believe the city was connected to the ancient giant city of Ostoria. The giants and the group came to an agreement to discuss Waterdeep's history further over a meal the giants would provide.

A three-course meal of deviled griffon eggs, roasted roc, and pumpkin pie were given to everyone. The giants led with an explanation of why they believed Waterdeep was connected to Ostoria. A section of Ostoria had been destroyed by dragons in an ancient battle, and the giants thought it may have crashed to the ground on the coast where Waterdeep now flourished. Lady Silverhand corroborated these beliefs. She described a well of magic beneath the city that could've very well been from Ostoria. The well had since been sealed beneath the city and she insisted that attempting to excavate it could be dangerous if it was not cleared out first.

The giants agreed to come back whenever the Lady would permit them to dig. The party returned to the palace with Lady Silverhand and her knight, flying the griffons back down away from the castle. Back in the meeting room, she gave them their payment. With dreading, knowing eyes, Lady Silverhand stared at Adonis as she began to share her knowledge of magical augmentation, starting with a key piece of information.

"I was involved in your creation."