Taesn freezes. "Summerfolk..." she whispers. 

(We could play this out, but I'm anxious to move on to the next part. The riders remove their masks and reveal themselves to you. Two are an unusual kind of elf with golden eyes, bronze-colored skin, and deer horns atop their heads; they speak only elvish and introduce themselves as Deoch and Narimel. The third is a turquoise-skinned air genasi; it doesn't speak and no name is given. Taesn, with nearly useless 3-word interjections from Amaruve, slowly makes introductions and translates for these newcomers. Fiorello explains to you that the Summerfolk are the remnants of the original peoples of this world. They disappeared shortly after the ancestors of the people of the island of the Steam Festival (whom the Summerfolk call Springfolk) fled to this plane to escape the unending wars of their prime material plane.)

(Amaruve was rescued by them when he fell- I cannot imagine how he would convey the story to you all, but you get the impression that he survived an incredible fall. He has promised to assist these three in piercing the storm cloud that still lies in wait, half a mile past your small floating island. You all have had a short while to talk about this, and Fiorello agrees that the children are likely being held there. His guiding hand continues to point directly into the heart of it. Fiorello explains that there are legends that an enormous floating castle rests inside that sphere, and he has waited his entire life for the opportunity to discover it.)

Now then! How do you all plan to proceed? You have a huge wall of storm to pierce, and no obvious means of safe entry. The three Summerfolk are pretty confident that none of you will survive a trip inside. What's the game plan?

(Sidebar: Amaruve, have you shared with the group your trouble with guidance?)

(Useless?! I think you mean direct and concise!)

If anyone asks Amaruve how he survived, he directs your attention to the size of his belly. The Summerfolk were of no help in that regard.

If anyone tries to climb or hug Amaruve it may become apparent that he is quite tender, more so than he has been after any previous injury.

Amaruve does not mention that Guidance is failing. He continues to cast it in fact, as if it were working. It feels different, but it seems to be working better than ever!

He sniffs the breakfast (Perception: (Unable to parse dice roll.)26) delicious.

(You're absolutely right- with succinct and incisive clarification from Amaruve)

(Also, "broke a parent?" Did you mean, "be apparent?")

(Second also, was that a meta joke with your non-functional dice roll? Hilarious)

(That was "become apparent" (corrected). And yes, the roll error /roll was my meta joke.)

Amaruve considers how to enter the castle. "I'll fall in." He suggests. It seems like a fairly straight forward plan. He imagines dropping through the cloud with a rope he can use to pull the rest in.

Is Amaruve in human form right now, or did he just speak in bear form?

Cordelia looks up at you, Amaruve, pushing her spectacles a bit further up the bridge of her nose. "I find it highly unlikely that you would survive such a fall, Amaruve." She checks her stardust. "Dusty says that the portal will appear in two days' time, but it will materialize in the town square where we started. I calculate that we have 24 hours, tops, to do whatever we need to do to rescue those children, then we'll need to return immediately if we're going to catch our ride."

She doesn't say the unspoken truth: You have no idea how many children were taken, and gang, there's not much room for passengers in the steam skippers. Even if you all somehow make it, there's no guarantee that you'll be able to transport them back. 

"The stardust currently estimates roughly a 25% chance of success in this world. I can't say that I'm optimistic." She looks at the goblin, perhaps only just realizing what she is saying. "Oh. I'm... sorry, Tony."

Tony stretches, “Meh. Odds, who needs ‘em. If I believed half the odds I’ve heard over my life, then you and John over there would be eel food. You’re welcome for that, by the way.” Tony feels around for a cigar, which have been reduced to ash by the eels, “Cool... Anyway, I’m going to be getting my sister back, one way or another, so no sense in making a huff about it.”

Fiorello closes his eyes and raises a hand in the air, palm out. "I have some skill in divination... I see that each of the objects you have attained will be of use in piercing the sphere and reaching Castle Laputa within."

Taesn translates this to the riders, and the male horned elf responds. "Deoch says that his people have been locked out the that castle, Laputa, for generations. They have tried countless times to return. It will take cunning, and magic beyond their abilities to manage it." 

(Okay! Let's make a plan. You all need to pass through the stormwall to enter Laputa, the castle in the sky, and save those kids! Do all of that, and you might just leave this world a little better than you found it. Fiorello will offer his divination magick, and Taesn can guide your steam skippers, but you'll need to contribute something, as well. 

If you use your new item in your plan, then you'll get advantage on a roll to enter the cloud! Let's get in that round cloud!)

Tony raises an eyebrow to the bird, “Really? This thing is going to help us get inside? What am I gonna do, punch the wind?” At that, he shrugs, “Eh, wouldn’t be the weirdest thing I’ve done in the past couple of days.”

Tony will... punch the wind when within reach!

When Cordelia questions Amaruve's survivability he points again to his belly, then he reaches under his collar and produces the item he received and shows it to Fiorello.

The charm turns the user to stone briefly, once a day. Thus Amaruve does not demonstrate.

(DM indicated three word interjections so we can presume Amaruve felt it worth taking transforming to communicate.)

Quote from BDaddLy >>

(DM indicated three word interjections so we can presume Amaruve felt it worth taking transforming to communicate.)

 (We can retcon if that's not in-character for Amaruve. Either way, that won't count against your daily total)

 (No it's cool. I was just clarifying why I didn't note changing.)

"We have a stoned bear on our side, we cannot fail." Jean said nodding sagely. "Incidentally, do we know if any of that storm stuff is necrotic energy? My impressive new shield is strong against that stuff."

Perspicacious looks around at the group of people. Relief at seeing Amaruve alive had been followed by a lot of new developments. They've come such a long way, and she wasn't about to give up on the children just yet, but she wasn't sure about the Summerfolk. They seemed like they needed their help, but weren't very appreciative of their willingness to try. Whatever. More people just means more complications. Better to focus on the task at hand, which was getting through that storm cloud. 

"Well, I do have a new friend who's been here awhile. Maybe they can help us find a way into the cloud? A secret passage, or a button that turns it off or something..." Perspicacious takes out the bell and rings it, summoning the little flask once more. She had been thinking about a name for them, not because they needed one, but because it felt weird to refer to them as a mere object. "I'm calling them Chime, for the sound they make," then looking directly at the flask,  "Is that okay? Can I call you Chime? We need your help again, and you were great with Caspian, so I'm hoping you can work your magic. Maybe when this is all over, we can go back to the fair and get you... a drink? Whatever. Can you help us get in there?" And the tiefling holds out a pointed nail towards swirling storm cloud.

Quote from Rivina >>

"We have a stoned bear on our side, we cannot fail." Jean said nodding sagely. "Incidentally, do we know if any of that storm stuff is necrotic energy? My impressive new shield is strong against that stuff."

 Deoch responds (with Taesn translating). "There is more than stormstuff in that sphere. Death magic is wrapped into it. Whoever rides at the front will bear the brunt of the assault. If you say that you can face it... I will not argue with you, warrior."

Quote from AsbestosPenguin >>

Perspicacious looks around at the group of people. Relief at seeing Amaruve alive had been followed by a lot of new developments. They've come such a long way, and she wasn't about to give up on the children just yet, but she wasn't sure about the Summerfolk. They seemed like they needed their help, but weren't very appreciative of their willingness to try. Whatever. More people just means more complications. Better to focus on the task at hand, which was getting through that storm cloud. 

"Well, I do have a new friend who's been here awhile. Maybe they can help us find a way into the cloud? A secret passage, or a button that turns it off or something..." Perspicacious takes out the bell and rings it, summoning the little flask once more. She had been thinking about a name for them, not because they needed one, but because it felt weird to refer to them as a mere object. "I'm calling them Chime, for the sound they make," then looking directly at the flask,  "Is that okay? Can I call you Chime? We need your help again, and you were great with Caspian, so I'm hoping you can work your magic. Maybe when this is all over, we can go back to the fair and get you... a drink? Whatever. Can you help us get in there?" And the tiefling holds out a pointed nail towards swirling storm cloud.

Not sure what to roll for this... so here's the roll and I'll add whatever modifier the GM says I need.
7
With advantage for Chime: 5

 

 Chime sloshes around a bit, seemingly peering at the storm cloud, then gives a short shrug at the tiefling. "Okay... maybe that wasn't specific enough. How about you just make sure Caspian and the other skippers are in as good a shape as can be, and keep us all synchronized while we're up there? You seem to have a knack for that."

Quote from AsbestosPenguin >>

 Chime sloshes around a bit, seemingly peering at the storm cloud, then gives a short shrug at the tiefling. "Okay... maybe that wasn't specific enough. How about you just make sure Caspian and the other skippers are in as good a shape as can be, and keep us all synchronized while we're up there? You seem to have a knack for that."

  Chime dings with excitement. They race over to Caspian and tap the speaking stone, sending their bright chime repeating through all the other ships.

(okay, so it sounds like Jean will ride up front to take the brunt of the damage, Perspicacious will use chime to coordinate the skippers. Amaruve, are you planning to use yourself as an anchor? Still no word from Kyo... Cordelia has a plan- what about you, Tony? All good?)

Tony thinks it over for a moment. His punches are pretty tough, but these skippers might not hold up. “So, have we actually checked the structural integrity of these things? I mean, listen,” Tony taps the hull with his new brass knuckle. As he makes contact, the metal is punched inward as a hole in space-time has been carved in it. “Uh...” Tony stares wide-eyed at it, then at the knuckle, then at the hole, “I’m... gonna just hang out in there.”

It would seem that the knuckle works like a portable hole! It apparently creates a small, inter-dimensional lounge! Fully furnished! With a open bar! How incredible.

Amaruve will do his best to help the others land. Securing ropes where he can. To himself if needed, The effect of the Tanooki's charm lasts but a minute.