George the bard and Shazz'm the cleric had spent a bit too long partying in Waterdeep and missed the trip north to investigate the crash of Skyreach Castle. But Leosin Erlanther found them the next morning, informed them about the party's mission, and took them to see a group of Council wizards. These had been working on teleportation spells and were excited to attempt their latest creation, to send reinforcements to teams in the field. They cast the spell with the location of Induris, Al, and Bron as the target, but due to an unfortunate miscalculation the 5-minute travel time was actually 5 days. Which brought George and Shazz'm to fall out of nowhere just as Bron rushed forward in the remorhaz nest to challenge its occupant. They fell onto the eggs, Bron hit the beast, the beast flared its aura of heat in surprise, and everyone paused for a moment in great confusion! Battle waits for no one, though, so Bron, Al, and Induris finished off the beast quickly before greeting their unexpected comrades. After bringing one another up to speed on current circumstances, Bron and George each took one of the remorhaz eggs, using spells to keep them warm. Al and Induris snuck out of the burrow to retrieve the wyverns, and then distracted the nearby remorhaz while the others mounted. Bron and Shazz'm stumbled, cracking one of the eggs in the process, but eventually they were all aboard with one egg safely stowed away. Returning to the giants, the party triumphantly presented the egg to Brunvild. He was duly impressed and promised to treat them as honorary giants, despite their small stature. With this newly exalted status, Induris convinced him to allow the dwarven trade caravans to pass freely through his lands, in exchange for the help of the dwarves in digging out Skyreach Castle. A team of ogres and giants under Blagothkus set out immediately for the castle crash site, while the adventurers detoured to the dwarven settlement to inform them of the news. There the dwarves also agreed to the deal, even refunding part of Induris' contribution of gold and granting several magic items as gifts. Together, they then set out for the crash site. Once everyone arrived at the castle, work proceeded quickly. The dwarves dug away the ice, while Blagothkus repaired the magical propulsion systems. The work was only a day or so from completion when an ogre rushed from watch duty to report an army of orcs approaching! Their leader Gru-Nar shouted demands for surrender, in the name of the Cult of the Dragon and for the freedom of the orcs from giantish tyranny! Eschewing diplomacy, the adventurers prepared to fight! A first probing attack of about 2 dozen orcs rushed the ice cavern entrance below the castle. This was met by ogre guards and a fear spell from George, and quickly repulsed. A second attack of nearly 50 orcs was more concerning, but Shazz'm was equal to the challenge. He called on his goddess Aedrie Faenya, then used his magic to collapse the ice cavern ceiling directly onto the invaders, driving them back. The party returned above to the castle courtyard, just in time to see the orcs massing their full force for a final assault...and not alone! A white dragon soared over the castle walls, bearing a harness supporting nearly a dozen cultists! This was Arauthator, the same wyrm that party had encountered in the Sea of Moving Ice. At the same time the orcs attacked from below. The dwarves and ogres met the orc assault, while the adventurers stood their ground against the dragon. Several of the cultists were quickly dealt with thanks to fireballs from George, axe and dagger work from Bron and Induris, punishing blows from Al, and a massive lightning strike by the magic of Shazz'm. However, the senior cultists and Arauthator himself were made of sterner stuff than their compatriots. They felled both Bron and Shazz'm, and the outlook for the others looked ill. But just then, leaping from high above in the castle tower, Blagothkus joined the fray! Shouting his hatred for all dragons and uttering battle cries in the name of Aedrie Faenya, the giant fell upon the dragon with his mighty mace. With the dragon otherwise engaged, the adventurers were able to regroup, then come to the aid of Blagothkus to fell Arauthator. With the dragon fallen, the nerve of the remaining cultists and orcs broke and they fled...only to be cut down from behind by Induris, Al, and the remaining dwarves and ogres. With the attack repelled, the defenders could regroup and count their fallen. Many dwarves and ogres gave their lives in the defense, but the orcs and cultists had been wiped out entirely. Word was sent to Brunvild, who arrived with reinforcements in case of any additional attacks, but it seemed that the cult forces in the area had been spent. A few days later, the castle repairs were complete and Blagothkus took it up into the skies again. In thanks for their help, he conveyed the adventurers back to Waterdeep, and promised that the castle would be at their disposal for future battles against the Cult. In Waterdeep, the Council was pleased to hear of the recovery of Skyreach Castle and the alliance with the giants. The dwarven representative in particular was happy to hear that his kinsmen in the north were now on better terms with their giant neighbors. A few of the councilors expressed concern over the bloodthirsty way the party had dealt with the fleeing orcs and cultists, fearing that such brutal tactics would sow the seeds of future unrest. But overall, the Council is pleased with the results of this expedition.