Vacation in Stormhome: Around Cliffwash > Center Spire > Airship Tower

Since I had such a fun time on the airship heading up here, I decided to go have lunch at the airship tower in the capital of all airship traffic so I can watch the ships and people come and go while enjoying a meal.

As I watch I notice they come and go on an exceedingly prompt schedule, making no allowances for a passenger being even a minute late. It looks like if you’re late, there are passenger crews of hippogriff-carriages that will chase down the ships and get you on board, so long as it’s not been more than ten minutes, but the cost is hefty. I think if I had the money I’d probably be late on purpose to get that ride. Seen stuff like that in Sharn but it’s mostly elemental sleds and such that get you around there.

The air is an amazing whir of activity, full of burly and magebred griffon/rider crews hauling ships exactly to the moorings and away before they flare up for sailing again, much like tugboats. Only;y, you know… flyin’. For the massive cruise-passenger ships, crews of over two dozen are sometimes needed to position them perfectly against the disembarking docks, so fine that even a piece of paper wouldn’t fall through. A response team on pegasi circle below, and once I see a rather drunk passenger fall overboard. Immediately, the three nearest pegasi riders spring into action, one casting featherfall and two others spanning a net between them. They catch the passenger and return them to solid land. People clap and I join in. I notice the Crows insignia on those riders.

The cafes here are very good if a bit pricey. They’re serving a new drink called “Civoffe”, said to be made with beans processed specially by some rare animal out of Xen’drik. Wait… Seriously?!? Eww! I quickly realize that what they’re really buyin’ is civet poop coffee. I… I just can’t. I stop myself from laughing too loud but still get a few looks as I stare at a couple who look like they may be on a lunch date and are both enjoying cups of the stuff.

I eventually pull myself back to why I’m really here and watch the aerial activity with a bit of awe. At one point a very unhappy Sivis-marked gnome runs past me with their bags clutched to their chest. They bark something at one of the hippogriff carriages and hop in the back as the temperamental hybrid darts into the sky to catch a far ship. The hippogriff returns about fourteen minutes later, streaming sweat and panting hard, but the carriage owner hops off and begins tending to the tired animal, giving it bits of snack and currying. After a bit of rest and care, it seems alright to make a dash again. So cool!