Skyswept Palace

The **Skyswept Palace** was a flying fortress operated by a simulacrum of the cloud giant Alta Cirrus.

In 1487 DR it assaulted the city-state of Waycrest, dropping its huge chain anchors and causing devastation and death, whilst its aarakocra minions flew out demanding tributes be paid. One of the aarakocra stated that Alta Cirrus ("Earl of Knothland") was seeking the Knight Stone - a legendary statue of Maygar Wayfinder rumoured to be in the possession of Carolyn Bearskin.

By this time the fortress had fallen into disrepair, with signs of great battles having taken place, scorch and claw marks all around being possible evidence of a battle with a dragon. The great hall which took up most of the fortress was in ruins. It served as a temple to Memnor and contained a large two-faced hooded statue of the deity holding a giant spear; one of the faces a picture of joy and exuberance, the other an image of sorrow and loss. The damaged mosaic on the ceiling appeared at one time to have shown great images of giants triumphing over dragons in battle.

The fortress was brought down, crashing into the Shining Sea by Waycrest's special envoy of adventurers.

## History

Like all cloud giant flying fortresses it was constructed millenia ago before the war with dragons and the fall of Ostoria. These flying fortresses were renowned for raiding cities for archaelogical artifacts as well as treasure.

There are only a couple of recorded accounts of cities that have dealt with the stronghold described as the Skyswept Palace in Waycrest's archives. A correspondence from Neverwinter dated 1437 DR claims to have paid off several masked cloud giants with a custom-made spyglass, built to giant proportions, accompanied by a show of their own aerial force. They encouraged Waycrest to join to Lords' Alliance with the promise of being able to pay off or rubuke similar attempts to extort them.

The second account comes from Luskan, a letter dated 1472 DR from Dasharra Keldabar to Commander Deng Tukra, discussing her griffon business and remarking on some of the wonders she has seen from the air: silver dragons, floating ships, and a cloud giant castle matching the description of the Skyswept Palace are noted.

In 1487 DR the Skyswept Palace assaulted the city-state of Waycrest, dropping its huge chain anchors and causing devastation and death, whilst simulacrum aarakocra minions descended calling for the city to surrender immediately and offer tribute to Alta Cirrus before sunset. They declared that Cirrus had need of the Knight Stone.

The attack co-incided with the unmasking of Carolyn Bearskin and her true nature as an oni in league with the giants, so that when it became time to discuss the city's response to the Skyswept Palace's arrival there were only two surviving members of the Ruling Council of Waycrest. They determined that the city would refuse to give in to demands and that a special envoy should be sent to buy time and find out more about the nature of the threat posed by those on board the flying fortress.

The special envoy of Clerebold Quentin, Grimgrim Iron Jaw, Estrid Stormbringer, and Karo Amakiir were taken up to the floating fortress by the Waycrest Sky-Guard and found the simulacrum of the cloud giant Cirrus within a ruined altar to Memnor.

After defeating him in battle they rushed to the top of the navigation tower and were assaulted by a sentient tornado. The envoy were able to beat the wind and used the navigation sphere to send the fortress crashing down in to the Shining Sea.

## Occupants

### Alta Cirrus (simulacrum)

Alta Cirrus, Earl of the fiefdom of Knothland, kin of Knothling, heir apparent to Ostoria, is a cloud giant cleric, and aboard the Skyswept Palace lurked a simulacrum of him. He had some fixation with Countess Sansuri, repeatedly referring to her as his wife, and was also apparently unaware he was a simulacrum.

He worshipped the deity Memnor, and described how he had embarked on a *"journey of the chosen"* and had now passed through the eye. He stated that it all started with the Knight Stone, and that he had been visited by "the Doom". He said that while the work of giants crumbled it was his duty to resurrect Ostoria.

In battle he was capable of smiting with holy energy. As he fought the special envoy it was noticed he did not shed blood, and when he was killed his body wisped away, rather than remained. He had been in possession of two bracers of defence.

### Unknown cloud giant (dead)

There was another male cloud giant's body within the castle which looked nothing like the Alta Cirrus the special envoy defeated. His body was torn and scorched, possibly from combat with whatever had so damaged the fortress itself. All around him showed signs of a great struggle.