Captain Zook

Year: 1491, Month: Mirtul, Date:14th

We look at the map, and contemplate where to go next.  Harshnag warns us to be careful as defiling the mounds will probably bring the wrath of the barbarians down on us.  I don't consider it defiling, as it is returning that which was stolen.

As we make our way to the exit, a huge stone now blocks the way out.  We must have triggered this when we pulled the lever whilst exploring a couple of days ago, but Harshnag says that the barricade can be reversed and disappears off to the rooms we had explored previously.  A few minutes later the block begins to rise back into the ceiling, clearing our way to the outside.

It is still early morning as we emerge from the Temple of the All-Father and back into the clean, crisp mountain air.  Harshnag says he must stay in the Temple of the All-Father whilst we hunt for the relics of the Giants.  We try to convince him to accompany us, but he is adamant he will stay here and await our return.  As we are saying our goodbyes to Harshnag, on the horizon appears a flying object slowly traveling across the sky towards the Temple.  The flying object doesn't have wings.  As it gets closer, and we can make out more details, we see there is a small ship with sleigh runners beneath, suspended from red balloons.  
 
We wait to see what happens.

It comes slowly over the top of us and stops about 50 feet above our heads.  A few moments later, two rope ladders uncurl, one from either side of the ship, and fall down with a slap as their bottom lands in the snow.  Someone leans over the side, beckoning us up the ladders.  The figure looks human, and is wearing a uniform that looks vaguely familiar.  Engraved on the side of the boat is a large letter Z.

I whisper a prayer to Tyr for protection, before grabbing hold of the nearest rope ladder and climbing slowly up.  

As I approach the top of the ladder and peer onto the deck of the ship, I count eight humanoids, all wearing black leather armour and masks covering their faces.

At the helm of this unusual flying contraption is a small Gnome.   I stop for a moment and stare at the Gnome as it looks exactly like Zook.  I climb over the railing to the deck, waving and shouting at Zook, but he shows no recognition that he knows me and continues at the Helm.   "Hey Zook! What you doing here?"  "I'm the captain of this Airship, that is normally for hire, and have been for 10 years since leaving my monastery."  This can't be as only a few weeks ago Zook was one of my companions! "Why did you leave our party, and what are you doing here in the Spine of the World." 

As I talk with Zook my other companions arrive on the deck of the ship.  Zook continues to explain that he has been hired by some members of the Cult of the Dragon who are followers of the Dragon Klauth.   Leo interjects that Klauth is an Ancient Red Dragon that lives in the Klauthen Vale to the west of Mirabar.  "Why would an Ancient Red Dragon want to help us?"   I am very confused.  This Gnome has the same name as my companion, looks the same as my companion, but acts as if he's never met Celery or I.  Whilst we're talking, a female dragon cultist saunters over and says he's just the captain of the ship, its us that have come to help you.  She takes off her mask, revealing a young, stern looking, human and introduces herself as Delsephine.  "Why does Klauth want to help us?"  "We have come to you on behalf of Klauth the Great Dragon of the North.  Klauth is offering you our services as a gift so you can travel across the lands without been affected by those below", and she points down.  She continues, "War against the Giants is inevitable, but the Klauth commands we go forward to meet our destinies.  If we slay all the evil Giant lords and you prevail and succeed in quelling the giant threat, Klauth bids you to come to his hidden vale so he can reward you."

"What do you know about the Uthgard barbarians?" "We know nothing!"

I continue to converse with the Zook lookalike and try to coax his memories of our time together.  Eventually I become frustrated, "Why do you remember nothing of Phandalin?"  He looks at me, "I have never been to Phandalin.  I come from a group of monastic Gnomes.  We all look identical and we all have the same name, although we all have different talents.  You must have met one of my brothers."  

This sounds almost unbelievable to me.  I'm sure Zook is pulling my leg, but Leo says he has heard of such settlements.

Celery has a frown across her face, "Red dragons are evil. We do not need this help." Leo though wants to play along.  I concur, Klauth has not done anything bad towards us, but if Klauth reneges I will smite him and bring down the full might of Tyr's justice.  It takes a while to convince Celery, but eventually she reluctantly backs down.  For now.  

We ask the new Zook if he could sail us to Shining White, "How long to Shining White Captain Zook?"  Zook asks to see our map, which he pores over for a few minutes, "19 hours."  

There is a flurry of activity as Zook urges the crew to action and the Airship slowly turns around and begins to head south.  Once the Airship is underway, Delsephine comes over to out party and introduces her subordinates.  That's too much information for me.  I just nod and say well met.

We rest as the Airship makes it way slowly south through the rest of the day, and night.  Sometime before the sun rises, the weather turns, The winds increase, visibility drops to nothing, rain falls hard.  Captain Zook has to wrestle with the helm. "Shall we put down for a short time?", I shout above the howl of the wind, but Captain Zook says "No!" and keeps on going.  When the storm blows over, I hear loud swearing from the Captain, as he changes course, "The storm has blown us off course, it will be another couple of hours before Shining White comes into view."