Everyone had gathered on the marble balcony, but none saw means of travel that would bring them to the northern edge of the continent.
"Aye, the view is fine, but how do you plan on getting us past those mountains? I see no catapult! Ha ha!" Gloin, the dwarf, laughed to himself.
King Vertigo pointed to a stairway that appeared to lead to the roof of the castle. The group filed up the stairs and onto a large flat surface that was occupied by 3 griffins. The group gawked in astonishment. King Vertigo looked pleased for the first time. He quickly suppressed his smile and he looked down at the ground as he spoke. "You can put no cost on a life, but I assure you these creatures were difficult to come by. They will fly you to your destination and then head back to the floating island east of the river Scone. That is their home, and they have offered us a one way ride. We owe much to these creatures as so much depends on their flight." Vertigo looked up at the majestic beasts that stood before him. Then, he turned his gaze into the night's sky, full of bright stars shining their lights onto the world like rays of hope through all the darkness. He turned to Kuvo, "Take care young friend." He shifted to address everyone else. "You know your task. Do your best. We're counting on you!" He turned; heading back down the stairs from which they had just came.
"I'll ride with Koov!" the half-elf Kay quickly announced. Valorien looked at Gloin; "I'm not riding with that dwarf." Gloin gave a stony squint to Valorien; "Damn right you're not!" Kuvo and Kay began to head for a griffin to ride. Valorien went to one of the two barebacked griffins and began to climb on. Odin started after Valorien while Gloin attempted to mount the final griffin. Sturym took a sniff of the air, hesitated, and walked toward Valorien and Odin's ride. Patty walked over and helped Gloin finish his ascent onto the griffin's back. "Oy see why you're called Gloin, because you're just glo-wing with excitement!" Patty tried to joke with the dwarf, but it didn't seem to work.
"Why did I have to drink the last of my ale? I knew I'd regret it, and sure enough, here I am…" Gloin trailed off. Patty began again, "Dwarven ale huh? Good stuff. Though it can hardly be called ale compared to what Oy drink!"
"A Skinny child such as yourself couldn't hold a pint and keep his mind!"
"You'd be surprised."
"Are you implying you could out drink a dwarf at his own game?"
"Oy didn't say it…."
"You can't be serious! I've never been so insulted in my life!"
The group was well on their way, and already making friendships.