The Skies Scourge

A small boy is sitting at the end of a pier while he sips on his Lemmon-grass tea and waits for a bite at the end of his fishing rod. Some time passes when the string gives a bit of a tug. Excitedly he reaches for it and give it a big dramatic YANK! And at that same moment, he’s plunged into darkness, as if the sun had just disappeared. He looks up, expecting the huge fish he must’ve just pulled out to be falling toward him, but instead, he sees the underside of a boat.

The kid's mouth is wide open as he stares upward. He watches as what seems like a basket is lowered by a chain downward into the center of the village. He watches as some people climb in, and he recognizes the town mayor, a few others he’s seen around, and his father. The boy remembers his dad said he had to go on a work trip but didn’t think it would be in the sky! He watches as the basket ascends and the group waves down to the crowd that gathers. The boy's father looks around and then spots his son. He smiles wide and signs “I love you.” 

• Atop the ship the crew gets ready for the arrival of their guests.

• Remi is dangerously dangling her feet over the edge.

• The group approaches Remi, chats, and then the ship takes off.

• Captain Gretel gathers the crew to introduce their guests.

• They wear ornate golden headpieces, but slouch and chew straws of hay like humble fisherman.

Captain: “As you are well aware, we will be escorting them to Kradia and back. The journey should be a day, and in that time I expect you to be good hosts! I’m looking at you Theu!”

• The crew lets out a chuckle at Theu’s expense. The mayor of fool's gold attempts to say something, but stumbles over his words awkwardly.

Mayor: “Oh, and, if yur don’t mind, I’m Mayor Mud Mouse.. I-I wanted to give mah upmurst of thank yous for helping us make the-  journey?- and, uh .. -yeah.”

• The crew goes back to business. Time passes.

Travel

• The mayor is seen arguing with one of his comrades, seemingly worried about the Kragg of Kradia.

• Quegrass lights a fire on the deck to stay warm. Everblaze, Remi's pet phoenix, is very interested in it.

• Jade will not stop inquiring about people's dads and what one is like.

• Nyx spots a storm approaching. He asks a navigator named Mayfield about it.

• Mayfield shows how oddly long it is, and that they can't go around it without adding days of travel. It seems like a real storm, however. Not an illusion as Nyx worried.

• Gretel gathers the crew to get ready for the storm.

The storm

• They enter the storm. It is a thunderstorm, and strikes of lightning fly everywhere.

• All the strikes get attracted to the copper pole at the front of the ship, keeping everyone safe. 

"Every time the lightning strikes, you can feel your hair stand on end with static."

• Nyx and Quegrass notice hooks on the side of the ship and discover that its people are stealthily climbing the hull.

• Quegrass throws himself over, cutting the rope of an attacker and punching off another. Some of the others cut ropes.

• Suddenly, a Silverwing Raptor landed on the deck, tearing off the copper pole.

• As it leans forward, it's revealed some barbaric man is riding on its back. He aims his axe toward the sky, calling down a lightning strike. It hits his axe and the energy travels through him and out the Silverwing's beak, ripping across the deck.

•  Jade and Remi fight it off, causing it dive off the boat.

• Another flies overhead, slicing at the sails. The Vessel lurches, and the party jumps off the ship to fight.

Battle

• the fight is fast and intense, lightning screeching across the sky with heavy rain.

• The party quickly deals with three Silverwings, coordinating their attacks with brutal efficiency.

• They celebrate their victory when two more dive down from overhead, aiming straight for Remi riding Everblaze.

• Everblaze is diving and weaving away from the Silverwings but sustaining injury, while the rest of the party flies upward to intercept.

• As they do so, they overshoot Remi as the assailants pull them upward above the clouds.

• They lose consciousness, beginning to plummet.

• The fight continues. At some point Remi & Everblaze fall unconscious and get juggled between hands until the two assailants are defeated.

• The rain parts, the storm subsides, and they return to their ship.

Approaching Kradia

• The party spends time nursing their wounds.

• Eventually, they spot a Kragg approaching.

• It lands on the ship, asks what they want, and agrees to let them in.

• He hands them masks and heavy tunics to wear into Kradia so the locals don't see outsiders.

• Quegrass tears a small hole in his tunic for ventilation.

Meeting

• They enter Kradia and are escorted to their war room.

• Mayor Mud attempts to speak, but gets nervous.

• The Kragg get upset and offended by this.

• Remi encourages the Mayor, which gives him the confidence to ask for his request, with the promise of gold.

• The Kragg suggest they could fly to Fool's Gold and take their gold for themselves.

• Nyx counters, claiming it is not honorable.

• The Kragg are offended but like his spunk. They suggest an arena battle to prove their worthiness.

• The group agrees and volunteers Remi, Jade, Quegrass, and Nyx.

Arena Fight

• The battle is 4 against 4. They are on platforms hundreds of miles above the sea. They are surrounded by stands of Kragg.

• The battle begins. 

• Midway through, Remi calls Everblaze for aid.

• Everblaze arrives, sending the Kragg into an outrage that they cheated.

• The Kragg begin to stand in anger, ready to slay the party where they stand. Some begin diving onto Everblaze.

• Suddenly, a massive silver dragon dives from the sky directly toward the party. They all duck, expecting they'll be smitted, then the beast turns to face the crowd and fires a cone of energy into the Kragg.

• It was Captain Gretel's mount, and she and the crew hopped atop its back to escape.

• Nyx calls his Wyvern, and the party dives down out of the arena and books it toward the ship. A massive swarm of Kragg on their tail, swarming like angry bees.

• They make it to the ship and manage to get away, having to fight off the Kragg at the boat. 

• Once they are miles away, they look back to see a huge dragon fly upward into the sky. It looks furious and lets out a blood-curdling roar, stretching its arms outward. It's pure white, cast in gold from the waist down.