In which our heroes finally find Skyreach Castle Book Two, Chapter 2.3 (session 53, 14 th June 2018) As they regroup and start to ponder what to do next, Jamna admits that just prior to the griffon strike and seen only briefly through the blur of activity (and dizzying fall) she spied a large distinctive looking sandstone cliff rising from the desert some miles to the north, to either side of which appeared to be some kind of structure or ruin. However more importantly in front of this cliff (and only really coming into focus as her altitude dropped in freefall) there was the definite shape of some kind of large stone edifice at the end of what she swears looked like a big ditch or gorge – just the sort of trough a falling sky castle might make as it crashed? Taking Jamna at her word, although this cliff cannot be seen from the desert floor the party starts to trek northward. After two days, they finally glimpse the dark line of the cliff dancing above the dawn lit mirage horizon. Later that morning they come upon the raw trough gouged in the surface of the desert – over 120 feet wide and some 30 plus feet deep with drifts of broken stone and sand forming banks to either side. Following this trail for the morning, the image of the cliffs becomes more distinct and all agree there are definitely signs of there being something at either end that might be buildings but it’s very hard to tell. However what is much clearer is the huge broken remains of the great flying castle at the end of the gorge some distance ahead. Many of the upper towers have clearly been shorn off but the mammoth walls and big gateway towers seem more or less intact as does the central block of the castle – a block that looks for all the world like an iceberg. In fact the whole castle seems to be built of some kind of hardened ice – it doesn’t give off any overpowering wave of cold but it’s definitely ice and rather than appearing to be melting in the desert sun, the walls and towers appear to have been scraped and ground for all the world like the castle has rolled and bounced across the desert floor. Which it probably has judging by the great ravine stretching to the south, however there is no evidence of any of the broken off bits – no random blocks of ice/stonework, bits of towers, roofing or anything. Approaching closer to what is clearly the main entrance way, it is clear that the guard towers are very battered and the tops are no longer crenelated but rather worn and ground into broken edged stumps. The gateway itself stands askew, the great portcullis raised and bent, huge ice/stone doors twisted or fallen. Through the tunnel a glimpse of a vast inner courtyard can be seen. To either side of the gateway stand two huge (18 feet tall) statues, one male and one female. Shadows of movement can be seen atop the broken stumps of the towers. Jamna, creeps up to the base of the 40’ tall wall, where there is plenty of rubble and starts to slide stealthily along and through the gateway. The rest of the party hang back, wary of trouble. As Jamna passes the statues the male one to the west animates and steps forward towards her. Jamna turns and flees back out, mads and Augustus charge forward. The stone golem glares at Mads and he falls under its slow influence. Numbers of ogres appear on the tower walls and start throwing javelins. Augustus races past Mads only to have the second statue animate as another stone golem and slow him as well. From behind Naergon casts force wall surrounding the first golem, then fire bolts and lightning bolts at the second. Mads pushes forwards following Augustus. Augustus gets bludgeoned into unconsciousness inside the courtyard as he tries to find the doorway to the west tower. Mads shrouds himself in darkness and escapes the clutches of the returning golem. Jamna, aided by Ringo, steps in and out of cover sniping at ogres, killing three that plummet form the wall before the rest retire. Augustus regains consciousness just in time to see several ogres emerge from the tower door and race past him towards the main gate. Beyond he and Mads both spy huge lumbering humanoid forms striding across the giant courtyard and yet more ogres pouring from a door in the east wall. Protected by darkness Mads retreats whilst Augustus races up the tower planning to jump from the top. The plan now seems to be escape, as ogres charge out of the open gate, Naergon and Jamna retire, dropping ogres with arrow and spell. And there we left it – to be resumed next week No levels were gained this session: Naergon 12 th level Mads 11 th level Franz 11 th level Jamna 11 th level Augustus 11 th level XP earnt is now irrelevant as the rest of TOD is based on milestone XP In-Game the session ended at 11:15 on 17 th Tarsakh 1485 DR as the heroes consider their options Next session Thursday 21 st June