The Exploits of Misfit Company

"Yes, I can most certainly do that. Enjoy your shopping." When Stella, Kasha, and Yvan get back, Vastra goes through the whole shpiel about how Garabad probably went to some city of undead in a kingdom of vampires to heal and how it would be a very bad idea to break in there and assassinate him, so she learned some defensive spells and will teach them to Alys as well.

Bixby tips a non-existant hat, and with a flourish of his cloak vanished from sight in a poof of brimestone smell smoke..

Stella listens to the spiel, then nods as the countermeasures are presented. "Sounds good. I'll see if there's anything I can do to help."

When they arrive at the library, Yvan sees Alys waving for them to come over out of the corner of his eye, pointing their location to the others prior to heading over and listening to their findings. During the briefing, the goliath's look seems to darken ever so slightly, seemingly lost in his own thoughts for a bit before saying, "I'll come with you all when you are setting about the wards... and I'll scout around the area in the mornings and nights just in case. Kasha," Yvan looks to the druid. "Do you think you can convince some of your friends around the manor to keep an eye out for us?" 

"I'll join you on scouting," Stella tells Yvan thoughtfully.

When B would finally speak up and eventually address her, Alys would barely get the words out, "Right... Of course..." Before her eyes would dart away. She'd simply nod to his last question as he'd vanish in a mysterious Bixby manner.

The elf would stand politely with a smile as Vastra would fill everyone in on their research on Garabad. At one point Alys' face would change and she'd start sniffing as she'd start side stepping to the source. She'd find herself next to Stella. The wizard would lean in to whisper, "You smell good..." She really hoped that didn't sound creepy. But then Stella's colourful nails would catch her eyes, "Cute!" She'd cover her mouth from getting a little excited. She'd beam at the rogue with a big smile before mouthing, 'treat yo' self' with a little wink. She must have gone to the spa!

Alys' eyes would then fall over Yvan who seemed so lost in thought before speaking. Kasha did always have her many friends as he's asked. Stella's swift and perceptive from the shadows. And he could telepathically communicate with her if needed. Surely that was enough. Surely all of their safety measures will be enough to keep them all safe... Paranoia is already sinking it's claws in...

“Sure.” Kasha nodded to Yvan, and went to go and think about who she would choose. Let the smart ones handle the more intellectual issues. I’ll make sure the manor is watched over.

She went with Obsidian who trailed along. She looked at him for a moment and in turn he looked up at her. She wanted to say something to him and he could tell, so he stopped and sat, looking at her curiously. She opened her mouth but nothing came out. Her mind overcame her heart and she turned away, her brain telling her whatever she wanted to say was silly. 

She kept walking and Obsidian followed. 

She was beginning to accept that fact that even though she was on a team, and had many friends, she was hopelessly and terribly alone.

Bixby: You're able to find whatever it is you're looking for at the market and you find that the orphanages are all doing well.

You all get back on Faras' airship and take the trip back to Riisel. Faras even lets you off in Cerellia, so that Vastra can leave a commission with Dio, asking him for a set of helmets so that no one can charm any of you or read your thoughts. He says that it'll take two weeks, at which point you head back to the manor so that you can put up your defenses. Vastra spends the better part of an hour casting Guards and Wards, exempting the Misfits from the effect, as well as the manor staff and any animal friends that Kasha might ask to help watch over the mansion. She also casts Glyph of Warding, exempting all non-evil creatures from the effect. Once she's finished, she makes sure to see Alys and allow her to copy these spells as well. 

The next morning, she inscribes a Teleportation Circle into her room, so that she can have a more convenient way of getting to the manor.

Stella finds Yvan the evening they get back. She gives the goliath a cheerful smile. "Shall we figure out our patrolling route and schedule?"

During their ride back back, Yvan could be seen once again at the railings of the airship, staring off into the distance and very much deep in thought. His brow seemed to be permanently furrowed throughout the ride, and only if someone had approached him for whatever reason would it soften briefly. 

When they arrived back at the manor, Yvan wastes no time in doing a quick look around the perimeter, even joining Vastra when she had gone about to set glyphs around the area as well to act as some sort of bodyguard for her as she cast the spells. In the evening, when Stella approaches him with her cheerful smile, he hesitates in response as the image of her laying flat down on the ground flashes through his mind. He takes a second to refocus himself, taking a deep breath prior to responding confidently, "Of course. What did you have in mind?"

Stella gives Yvan a searching look for a moment before launching into her idea. "So, I thought we should figure a schedule, probably twice a day--morning and evening. It's the typical times, so we may want to toss an early afternoon one in there on random days to mess with anyone trying to sneak in. I figure a loop of the manor should be good, since Kasha's animals are watching the woods. We should check all the essential areas--well, foundation, et cetera--daily for any tampering or damage, and other spots on some kind of rotating, less frequent schedule."

Library

Alys would just stand awkwardly in silence while one by one everyone would turn to leave the library. She’d stand there alone, feeling invisible for a moment. Was it something I said?  She’d bring her hand close to her mouth and breathe into it to test her breath. The elf was about to lift her arms to start sniffing when the door would shut behind the last member of the Misfits. Wait for me! She’d hurry out.

Airship

During the last few bouts of travel, Alys kept to herself. Was it intentional? She had come to wonder if she was withdrawing herself, realizing that self-isolation came with its shadows. The contemplation of ones own self worth and where our piece fits in the puzzle seems to come into question. Everyone felt so distant. And it was probably her own fault. She had literally shut the world out in the pyramid. Perhaps it was time to reflect out, instead of in... Maybe it was time to show some appreciation... And if she couldn’t find the right words to say, maybe she didn’t need to say anything at all...

Alys found herself walking along the outer bridge of the airship, spotting Yvan staring out once again. He still seemed wrapped in deep thought with a furrowed brow. She’d feel herself slow, debating on whether to provide the goliath with space, but the pep talk she literally just gave herself said otherwise. With a deep breath, the elf would pad her way closer. Her hand would tentatively reach out for his before she’d decide to withdraw it back to her side. Instead she’d take another couple steps forward to stand by his side. She’d gently rest her head against his arm. She’d stand there in comfortable silence for some time as she look out over the horizon. Should he desire to talk, her ears were listening. Should he prefer the silence, she was happy to share it.

Though, Alys would eventually glance up at him to offer a soft smile. Should his face soften from his worries, she’d sheepishly ask for his help with something.

Back in Carellia

Alongside Vastra, Alys would make a request for some items at Dio’s shop. She’d also go meandering around to browse any other small mom and pop artisan shops that they may have around. The elf had a little bit of a shopping list and wondered how many things she could knock off in one trip.

Back at da crib fo real this time

As a loyal student, Alys shadowed Vastra through preparation and casting of the wards and glyphs, taking many notes along the way. She’d diligently copy the spells as soon as her mentor would suggest her to do so. The wizard would also hope to spend some time with Aryn, asking Vastra if she could hold her during some of the preparations. She’d also feed Aryn some treats from her designated pouch. Before parting ways with Vastra, Alys would pull her into a hug.

Once studies have wound down and everyone was off on their own tasks for the time being, Alys would set out for the garden. Her eyes would follow all the little critters buzzing about, welcoming her into the space. She’d run her fingers along the flora as she’d tip toe through, taking in a deep steady inhale. There was nothing better than the fresh scents that surrounded her in this place, and always brought a smile to her face. The cleric would eventually settle in a spot where she could be found weeding and trimming, preparing some plants for harvesting in the morning. 

Umaad:

Not knowing whether to be happy that the city's orphanges were doing well or disappointed, the summons to return for their departure to homebase came as some relief for the changling. Even so, there is a small delay for the shadling, as a few last minute rare items were purchased under various disguise.

Airship:

Beyond inquiring more into the engineering of the airship with whoever he can outside the party, Bixby remained content to stand apart from the others, practicing on his cittern. Though, as his gaze would occasionally wander across the deck, something felt amiss for perhaps a moment or two. Something about the others, or at least some that happen to pass his vision at the right time. But with the passing of the moments, so to did any interest in investigating personally, as history needed not repeat itself.

Back in Carellia:

Despite assurances from Dio, Bixby stayed true to his word about having other private business to attend to in the city that might keep him away for a few days. Before his departure, the shadling would at first offer to Stella a sending stone for ease of contact while he was away. That is, for in the event of a emergency, and neither Alys or Vastra being able to do so at the time. Albeit, at any insistence of his return to the manor for the exclusion process of the ward's effects, Bixby would return, but keep any visit short as reasonably possible. As there was no telling when Garabad would strike out at them, or if some odd job might require the call of the group, his first order of business is looking into various hirelings; ranging from traveling merchants and researchers to mercenaries. All paid extra for discretion with a different face for each.

After all is said and done, until summoned for a job, time he hoped to idle away the time creating various low level spell scrolls.

Airship:

There was a lot of things on his mind. It had jumbled up mess that he was trying to sort through silently on the ship, maybe having been hoping that the winds that hit his face would simply wash away all his worries for a time, but of course, it did no such thing. He hadn't expected Alys' approach, so caught up in his own thoughts that the feeling of her resting her head against his arm startled him. Though, when he notices it's only her, he immediately relaxes, his brow ceasing to crease.

Never the one for words, he remains silent, but gives her a thankful look. Her presence always had brought him a sense of mind. It was easier to think, to organize his thoughts properly and break them down one by one. The weight he had normally felt utop his shoulders had felt lighter, nearly nonexistent, as if she herself had been helping him lift it, and for once, he is able to let out a breath of relief.

When he looks to her again, meeting her gaze, he finally is able to crack a smile for the first time since getting on the ship. When she asks him for help with something, he is all ears.

Stella please don't insight check me throughout the week:

The rogues eyes on him causes him to freeze up a bit, but when he goes into her ideas for the routes and scheduling of patrols, he eases up a bit and nods along with what she says. "That sounds like a plan. I'm mostly outside anyways and I usually keep my eyes out on the treelines regardless, so there won't be a need for more than the three patrols suggested. For one of the throw in's, I'd suggest doing one much later in the night... I feel like any launch of an attack on us would be when we're most vulnerable... I'll make sure Kasha gets some of her nocturnal friends to keep their eyes out as well. I know where Vastra had set up most of the glyphs around the area, so let's also go ahead and check on those to see if any of them had gone off or may have been disarmed somehow during our patrols..." He pauses, his lips thinning for a bit.

"My only worry is if we happen to be away from the manor for whatever reason, he will try to attack then. We've made a lot of preparations in case of an attack, but what if he manages to get through them all and does something to the house? To the workers... Everything we've worked hard on..."

Stella nods seriously. "It's a point at which we're vulnerable, and I doubt our newest enemy would have any qualms about turning the staff into undead to ambush us when we get back." She nibbles her lip. "What if...we hallowed the manor? That would keep him from getting on the property, period. It's not really a patrol matter, but I just thought of it."

Yvan tilts his head when Stella suggests hallowing the manor, his brows knitting together as he thought of what she could have meant by that. Perhaps it was a sort of spell he didn't know about. The name itself doesn't ring any bells for the barbarian, though truthfully, his knowledge in magics were limited to whatever spells their casters had shown off during downtimes and battle. This would be the first time he's heard of such a thing, but if it kept Garabad out... "It's... a possibility. What, uh... what does it do exactly? Would anyone of us know how to go about casting it?"

"Okay, so when I was a kid, my parents were friends with this religious family, and their son and I used to listen into their conversations, which were usually boring, but every once in a while they talked about something interesting," Stella explains. "And once, we were listening, and they were talking about placing a temple in this dangerous place with a lot of undead, fiends, weird aberrant monstrosities, that kind of thing. And the religious people said they were going to have someone hallow it. Basically, hallow keeps anything otherworldly out, although they said they were going to make an exception for celestial beings just in case, so I guess you can make exceptions. And you can add another effect too, but that varies. Alys might be able to...I don't know how much she's been focused on her cleric stuff versus her wizard studies." She nibbles her lip. "Worst case scenario, we could find someone to do it for us. It lasts until it's dispelled, so they wouldn't need to recast it."

Despite his gaze being held on something else, Yvan listens to Stella’s tale with rapt attention, nodding slowly near the ending. “I like the idea of that... It could definitely work. Even if it may be over the top with all the precautions we already have set in place... Better safe than sorry.” He concludes. “We should see if it’s within Alys’ capabilities, then. Maybe we could find a scroll for it for her if possible?” 

Stella nods. "Agreed. It's expensive, but probably worth it. We can bring it up to them next time we see them." She glances at Yvan again, then smiles. "But back to patrolling. Do you want to split up, each taking half, or do the whole thing in a pair?"

Again, the mountain born falls silent at the question, in thought once more. Had the two split up, they could definitely cover more ground, however there was a nagging at the back of his mind. What if either of them got ambushed during their rounds? What if they weren't fast enough? What if they got too overwhelmed? The questions and bad scenarios kept piling on and playing through his mind until finally he takes a deep breath. "Together," He decides finally. "It may take longer, but we'll be more through, and if anything does happen we'll be with each other... Strength in numbers."