Neko takes to the ring for the first time and has a weirdly laid back match against the monk, Aya. She also manages to popularize a new chant! Gorlax then fights another blood hunter with similar abilities to his own, and also manages to coin a new term while doing so.

The Slippery Swords continue to fight their way through the tournament. Gorlax faces off against…himself? Ashe showcases her talents against a flamboyant wizard, a samurai draws his blade against a monk with fascinating abilities, and Jeff adopts a controversial persona as he exchanges blows with a familiar opponent.

The party visits Englebert to "Spin the Wheel" and get some interesting new magic items. They then proceed to the long anticipated fighting tournament, and receive their bracket placements. Neko has an awkward reunion with Ashe. Relic participates in the first fight of the tournament, against a mysterious artificer named Tobi, clad in a massive suit of armor. Gorlax and Jeff convince Ashe to bet against them on the fight's result.

The gang makes their way out of the floating castle as it falls from the sky, and back to the Whispering Blades HQ. They de-brief with King and argue over finances before taking some down time. Relic grapples with his relationships with his fathers, Neko checks in on her milk bar, Jeff educates himself on his patron, and Gorlax signs everyone up for a fighting tournament - TWICE.

The Pillar.

The gang continues on through the floating castle and finds multiple more series of elaborate mazes. They come upon laboratories and active experiments, and documentation that ties back to Billups, The Sound, and even their initial meeting with Ashe in Arabel. They also stumble upon impossible technology, culminating in an encounter with robotic constructs that call upon the power of cotton candy. These robots make reference to their "Mother," who they say is at the top of the castle. Could this "Mother" be the one in the photographs found in the bedroom? Is she one of the Pillars the party has been tasked to find?

The gang takes to the skies on their newly acquired griffons and make their way to the floating castle above Secomber. They barely manage to evade a volley of lasers from the castle, and thanks to some clever flying from Neko, manage to find an entrance. They are met with a bizarre maze of oddly shaped rooms, and must solve a puzzle to proceed. Upon clearing the first area, they find themselves in a strange bedroom. Among the belongings there are a series of odd pictures that depict a very long life, lived - seemingly - fully within the walls of this castle. The pictures also tie back to an old acquaintance...Billups! Whose castle is this? Who are The Pillars and what do they have to do with this place?

Having defeated The Sound, the gang exits the cavern to find the mysterious fog that beset Secomber has suddenly lifted. A mysterious floating castle hangs hundreds of feet above them. They check in with Sheriff Ivy and Lil Timmy, to whom Relic/Gorlax break the news of Justice Cromwell's demise. Ashe checks in remotely to ask that Fess escort Ivy and Timmy to the safety of the Whispering Blades HQ. They break into the bank vault, Relic gets his boots and hat back, and they all head to the griffon stables to NOT eat all of the griffons.

The gang continues their battle against the fearsome beast discovered in the mines outside Secomber. The creature overwhelms the party with its furious violence and grotesque magics.  Neko and Relic cling to life as Newcomer Fess taps into a deep well of wild magic, to fantastical effect. Jeff finally uses his sword to hit stuff, and Gorlax earns his retribution in style. Where did this disgusting worm come from, and why does it want to party so dang bad?

The gang begins their battle against a grotesque mutant worm in the mines outside of Secomber. Fess taps into his magic with chaotic consequence, unleashing a fireball that endangers the party. The beast unleashes a terrifying roar that leaves the party absolutely Frightened (PHB pg. 290). Jeff finds a creative use for his spellcasting Orb given to him by Engelbert, to spectacular effect. There's no way this battle will last more than 10 rounds...right?