"Excellent choice, especially if this is your first trip on the Ferry," she smiles. "Normally I would narrate from the podium, but since you are the only guest today, you can have a more intimate tour." She leads you to the nearest booth and takes the seat across from you so you can both gaze out the window. "It looks as if we are starting to move."
The ground slips away beneath you and soon you are over the forest. You can see the cottage with the garden where your adventures began in the distance and the mountains in another direction.
"Who owns that little cottage?" you ask. Solsticia looks where you are indicating.
"Well, that is not part of the usual tour, but I believe that belongs to Bartholomew, a minor sorcerer. It is said that he holds the key to journeying to other realms. He is a very poor gardener, however. His home is overtaken by birds' nests, overgrowth, and debris." You nod, remembering the state of the flower beds. "There are several cottages scattered throughout the woods, but the only human towns are over the mountains, mostly fishing villages. Of course there are Wood Elf and Pixie settlements but those aren't visible from the air. If you look ahead now you will be able to catch sight of the sea."
You pass over the sandy beach and see great sea going vessels. Solsticia is able to point out several wrecks, a school of flying fish, and what she claims is a ghost ship, though to you it resembles a fog bank. You see the spout of a whale, but now the zeppelin climbs and you find yourself surrounded by wispy clouds.
"Oh dear, the clouds are low. I suppose that ends our tour. Here, let me fix you a drink. Would you like some cooling cucumber water? A hot tea? Spiced wine? Name it and I am sure we will have it."
She continues to chat pleasantly as she mixes you your drink. She returns it to you, but you have only had time to drink about half of it when she glances out the window once more.
"Oh, we are there!" she exclaims. You turn your attention to the window but can see nothing but a blanket of fog, but then you break above the cloud cover and see a miraculous sight on the horizon, a city of alabaster and pearl with spires and stair cases floating upon a particularly dense sheet of cloud. You rub your eyes. You knew that this was a castle in the clouds but hearing about it and seeing it are two different beasts and you gape in awe at this impossible structure.
In no time at all the zeppelin bumps up against a dock like protrusion on the city and the sky-sailors hurry to bind ropes and hold it fast.
You disembark with the crowd and find yourself facing the broad, shining streets of a fairy city.
Do you proceed immediately to the Queen?
or
You have some time. Explore the Cloud Castle while you can.
The ground slips away beneath you and soon you are over the forest. You can see the cottage with the garden where your adventures began in the distance and the mountains in another direction.
"Who owns that little cottage?" you ask. Solsticia looks where you are indicating.
"Well, that is not part of the usual tour, but I believe that belongs to Bartholomew, a minor sorcerer. It is said that he holds the key to journeying to other realms. He is a very poor gardener, however. His home is overtaken by birds' nests, overgrowth, and debris." You nod, remembering the state of the flower beds. "There are several cottages scattered throughout the woods, but the only human towns are over the mountains, mostly fishing villages. Of course there are Wood Elf and Pixie settlements but those aren't visible from the air. If you look ahead now you will be able to catch sight of the sea."
You pass over the sandy beach and see great sea going vessels. Solsticia is able to point out several wrecks, a school of flying fish, and what she claims is a ghost ship, though to you it resembles a fog bank. You see the spout of a whale, but now the zeppelin climbs and you find yourself surrounded by wispy clouds.
"Oh dear, the clouds are low. I suppose that ends our tour. Here, let me fix you a drink. Would you like some cooling cucumber water? A hot tea? Spiced wine? Name it and I am sure we will have it."
She continues to chat pleasantly as she mixes you your drink. She returns it to you, but you have only had time to drink about half of it when she glances out the window once more.
"Oh, we are there!" she exclaims. You turn your attention to the window but can see nothing but a blanket of fog, but then you break above the cloud cover and see a miraculous sight on the horizon, a city of alabaster and pearl with spires and stair cases floating upon a particularly dense sheet of cloud. You rub your eyes. You knew that this was a castle in the clouds but hearing about it and seeing it are two different beasts and you gape in awe at this impossible structure.
In no time at all the zeppelin bumps up against a dock like protrusion on the city and the sky-sailors hurry to bind ropes and hold it fast.
You disembark with the crowd and find yourself facing the broad, shining streets of a fairy city.
Do you proceed immediately to the Queen?
or
You have some time. Explore the Cloud Castle while you can.
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