Skyguard: the Airship and Academy
The captain of the Phereless
Captain Stratos commands the Phereless as part of King Alteon’s flying army, the Skyguard. He says Alteon formed it in response to the threat of Sepulchure’s flying fortress, giving his knights a way to reach danger anywhere. Stratos has a private purpose as well. He once wandered in search of someone, and captaincy lets him protect Lore while searching across the land. He does not identify whom he hopes to find.
Now Gladius’s sky pirates have taken over his ship. Stratos describes raiders who harass his knights and destroy villages, growing more aggressive under their leader. The Hero defeats fifteen Sky Pirate Draconians aboard the Phereless, but the assault continues. Reducing the enemy’s numbers has not yet made the vessel safe.
The boiler’s unexpected passenger
Stratos fears what the pirates could do to Lore if they gain full use of the Phereless. Its steam motor lies beneath the main deck, and he proposes cutting its power by clogging the boiler. The Hero gathers ten boxes of Gel-Oh-No gelatin treats from a recent shipment and throws them in. The plan works, but a jolt gives Stratos reason to worry about what has happened below.
Something is moving inside the clogged boiler. The Hero investigates and discovers a rehydrated Gel-Oh-No monster formed from the treats. Stratos admits that he cannot explain the science behind it. There is little time to investigate that mystery further: the ship and its defenders still need help, and the pirates are bringing in another threat.
Taking back the ship
A huge Sky Pirate Dragon arrives with weapons mounted on its armor, including a cannon on its back. Stratos stands guard while the Hero takes it down. With that reinforcement defeated, the Skyguard presses its advantage. The Hero collects Medals of Dishonor from the pirates’ fallen minions, until Gladius is the final obstacle to recovering the Phereless.
The Hero defeats Gladius, returning the Phereless to Skyguard control. Stratos thanks the rescuer, saying that King Alteon and the Skyguard will always honor the Hero. He still expects possible stowaways aboard and intends to deal with them as they are found. The next priority is docking at the Skyguard Hover-Base for repairs.
The Master’s glorious scheme
Elsewhere, a hidden speaker gathers followers for what he calls a grand beginning. He intends to eclipse the failures of an earlier Chaos Lord through his own success. He claims to have spoken with the power behind Chaos, whom a recruit identifies as Drakath. Yet the speaker admits that Drakath has not actually named him the next Chaos Lord.
His plan is to infiltrate and take over the Skyguard, settle an old score, and then spread havoc through Lore. That success, he believes, will leave Drakath no choice but to appoint him. He calls his followers friends, colleagues and pawns in the same breath. Beneath his promises of a glorious scheme lies another desire: when the world falls apart around him, he believes he will finally be safe.
A lesson in nightmares
A recruit asks how the followers can trust the scheme and what reward they will receive beyond promised anarchy and revenge. A Dreamweaver silences the question. At the leader’s invitation, she traps the doubter in visions of horror, explaining that illusions and dreams can deny him both peace and rest until she lifts the spell. The leader, now addressed as Master, chooses to let the punishment continue.
The Master promises the others wealth taken from the people displaced by the coming upheaval, as well as the knowledge that they have served Chaos. Those already wearing Skyguard recruit uniforms must prepare for the induction ceremony and assume their roles. He also sends the Dreamweaver to ready herself, calling her role vital and expressing his intention to make the Skyguard his own.
Induction under attack
At the Academy, Stratos concludes the recruits’ induction into service under his command. Their education will combine theory in the school with practical work aboard the Phereless. He tells them the ship once belonged to his father and encourages pride, hard work and heroics in their new assignment. The recruits cheer their welcome.
The ceremony ends in an alarm: the Academy is under attack. Stratos says its halls have never been assaulted before, and promises that whoever arranged this will pay. For now he needs the Hero, although only a guest, to help bring down the invaders. The Hero scouts the monsters’ positions and reports what the defenders face.
Questions and tripwires
The Hero questions nine Chaobolds and two Sky Pirates, and collects five Academy history books to seek the motive behind the invasion. The books offer no answer. Stratos distrusts the Chaobolds’ account of being sent from an old master to a new one, but notes their suggestion that the attack is personal for their Master. For the creatures themselves, they claim, chaos and mayhem are simply life.
Even with help from the new recruits, the defenders cannot yet hold back the attack. Stratos directs the Hero to activate fifteen sensors for the Academy’s semi-automatic tripwires. The traps thin the Chaobolds’ numbers, giving the inexperienced recruits a chance to deal with the remaining monsters. Their contribution becomes a reason for the captain’s later confidence in the class.
The displaced warder
An Imbunche remains to be dealt with. Stratos recognizes such creatures as guards of magical lairs, serving warlocks, wizards, witches and others who wield power. Its presence away from that post suggests its Master is on the move. Unsure whether it can communicate telepathically with that Master, Stratos asks the Hero to render it unable to report.
With the warder defeated, Stratos has a clue about the power behind the invasion, but no settled answer. Restoring the Academy comes first, with the recruits able to help. He praises their unexpected skill in battle and singles out Invidia as someone who could rise far. The Skyguard’s need for the Hero’s help continues.
The captain’s recruit-aide
Afterward, Stratos thanks the Hero for accepting the invitation to the induction ceremony and helping against the incursion. He asks the Hero to remain nearby in case further trouble develops, while the Skyguard investigates who was responsible. Then he introduces Invidia, whose efforts during the fighting he considers exceptionally helpful.
The Hero congratulates the recruit, telling her that Stratos does not praise lightly. The captain says she seemed to be in the midst of every battle, and appoints her his Recruit-Aide so that he can personally oversee her training. The Hero encourages her to watch the captain closely and perhaps earn a command of her own. Invidia promises to make herself as useful as possible.