The adventurers awake to the town guard pounding on their door. "In the name of Captain Othelstan of Parnast, come quietly to the town square for questioning!" The captain is there with several tough-looking mercenary adventurers, who have just arrived in town after finding the massacre at the hunting lodge. They accuse Varcus of committing the murders, as the mercenaries were able to identify his magic at the scene. Though suspicious, they have no proof of involvement from the others, so only Varcus is arrested while the rest of the party will merely be escorted out of town. Judging that this is an inopportune time for conflict (and besides, those mercenaries look dangerous), the party acquiesces to these terms. While Varcus is taken under guard to the south side of town, the others are able to sneak back in the north. They find a barn, in which are stabled not horses or oxen but two massive winged gryphons! At the same time, they see a huge cloud approaching from the south, moving quickly and finally landing at the south end of the village. On the ground it becomes clear that this is a flying castle! Though none of the party are particularly skilled with animals, they find ways to tame the beasts. Some quick butchery of local farm animals by Induris provides food to distract the gryphons, and Bron's strength combined with support from the cleric and monk prove enough to saddle the winged creatures. Mounting two per gryphon, they take to the air and fly over to the castle. Their approach draws no suspicion, as gryphons are often used to approach the castle. The layout of the castle is clearly visible from the air, including large numbers of ogre guards and cult members moving about their business. Sharp eyes notice Varcus and his mercenary guards enter the castle by the main gate. Upon landing, the gryphons fly off on their own to the stables, and the party moves carefully along the walls and corridors until they are hidden in the room above the main gate. They are about to charge down to rescue Varcus when a group of cultists approaches, led by a half-black dragon! The mercenaries greet her as Lady Rezmir and turn the prisoner over to her. She takes Varcus through the castle courtyards and into a room at the base of the largest tower, on the north side. Carefully, the party moves after her, counting on their purposeful manner to fool any curious observers into thinking they are cultists. This works for a while, enough to get them to the main tower and do some reconnaissance. Eventually, though, even the dim-witted ogres begin to wonder why this group of "little dragon people" is peering through windows. Before too much attention comes their way, they burst into the tower room and set upon the cultist guards. These cult guards are quickly overwhelmed, particularly once one of their number is banished by Shazz'm to another plane, but they are not alone! Bron is ambushed by a magical bear rug, and only his great strength saves him from being smothered. Animalistic guard drakes bound forward to the attack from the back room, and Rezmir herself comes forth with acid breath and a mighty death-dealing greatsword. Bron is severely injured in her onslaught, but the others are able to bring her down, at which point her body and non-magical items flash into dust and the contents of a chest in the back room disappear. In the back room they recover Varcus, fortunately before Rezmir had time to put him to the question. All the commotion attracts more attention, though, and the party is forced to retreat up a long stair before more guards come to investigate, having time only to retrieve Rezmir's insignia (Bron) and greatsword (Varcus). This stair leads further into the tower, up several stories, and ends in a storeroom. Just outside is a huge blue heatless flame of magic, which Varcus is able to identify as cloud giant in origin.