The Exploits of Misfit Company

Vastra found Alys meditating amongst the anemonies. She held the blue flower in one hand, and her pipe in the other. At the sound of her mentors voice, the elf would pop open her eyes. She'd look side to side looking for her before realizing she was behind her. She'd exhale a cloud of smoke she was holding. The cleric would lay back, tilting her chin up to spot Vastra standing there. Alys would present Vastra with the flower she was holding. "Morning Vastra!" Her cheeks would darken as she'd give her a dimpled smile. "I'm okay... How are you?" Her words were soft. And she genuinely did care how Vastra was doing.

"I dreamt of my mom... She was trapped... Calling out for me..." Alys would eventually confess. "I keep trying to convince myself it's just a nightmare... Just an anxiety dream... I mean trust me, I get those..." The elf would cheers her pipe in her direction. "But it showed me a place... it was so specific. So real..." She'd glance away before looking back to her. "But she's dead..." Alys didn't know if that last bit was a statement, or a question.

"I'm doing well, now that we've finished placing all of our magical defenses on the manor." But her pleasant expression fades when Alys tells her about the dream she had. "You mentioned that she died, it's possible that something has trapped her spirit and is preventing it from passing on. Could you describe the place that you were shown in your dream?"

Alys would smile, happy to hear of her relief. “Thank you for teaching me how to ward. I appreciate learning ways of defending our home.” She’d add. 

Noticing the change in Vastra’s demeanour as she spoke of her dream, Alys would pick herself up off the ground. She’d brush herself off as she’d face her. The clerics eyes were wide with horror, searching her mentors desperately from the concept Vastra proposed. All this time?! Her pulse would quicken as she’d respond from memory, “A crystalline skull in a dark, isolated chamber. And a large castle in an abandoned white city... somewhere in the Astral Plane.“

"Well I have to admit, the Astral Plane was never my area of expertise. Perhaps we can study to find out what this city is, worst case scenario we have to travel to the Astral Plane."

“I recently learned to Contact other Plane...” Alys wondered if that could help in their search. 

"You could try." 

If you cast the spell, make a DC15 Intelligence save or take 22 psychic damage and suffer from some form of temporary insanity until you take a long rest.

Alys would shift a little uncomfortably. It made her nervous using a spell such as this. It was taxing on the mind and ones mental stability. Alys knew she’d eventually grow unstable, falling deeper into madness the more she practiced her divination. Eventually she’d grow to forget memories she cherished so deeply. Everything she did was to preserve them, and her mind for as long as possible.

”Will you help me?” Alys would smile nervously. She trusted Vastra with her sanity more than Hoodini.

Int check: 23 + Guidance: 1 to hopefully preserve her sanity a little longer. 

Vastra takes Alys' hands, attempting to give her mind something to focus on while she tried to contact some powerful extraplanar entity. Fortunately, the spell goes off without a hitch and your mind is unaffected. Suddenly, the rest of the world fades, as your consciousness is taken to the Astral Sea and placed in front of a giant tortoise.

"I AM THE HERALD OF ALSETA, GODDESS OF PORTALS AND TRANSITIONS. WHY HAVE YOU CONTACTED THIS PLANE, MORTAL?"

Vastra’s hands were gentle and soft. Alys took comfort in her mentor’s presence. She would do just that, allow her mind to focus on that touch to ease her anxieties as she’d be carried off into the Astral Sea. When the elf’s eyes would fall upon the giant tortoise before her, she’d blink a few times. She had to remind herself, this was not the same as the magic trip she took in the woods with the humans in back in her early twenties...

Alys would swallow. “Hi Herald of Alseta. I’m Alys.” She’d squeak before clearing her throat to correct her voice. “I seek your knowledge and wisdom.” She’d begin honestly. “I worry my mother’s soul may be trapped somewhere on the Astral plane. Mialeee Amastacia appeared to me in a dream, trapped. There was a crystalline skull in an isolated room, located in a large castle in an abandoned white city.” The wizard would explain. “Do you know of this place?”

"YES."

“What is the name of this place? How do we find it to get there?”

"NA'LYETH"

"THERE ARE GUIDES ON THIS PLANE."

One question left. 

“How do I save her soul?”

(lol counted Ted. ♥️)

"DESTROY HER PRISON." 

And with that, your consciousness is whisked away from the Astral Plane and returns to the Material Plane, entering into a very sweaty body that is being held by Vastra.

“Thanks Ted...” Alys would whisper before opening her eyes. She’d blink a couple times to get her bearings. And when she’d feel Vastra’s presence still there, she’d lean into it. “Nal’yeth... There are guides that could lead us there... We would have to destroy her prison to free her...”

After, she’d come to realize how gross and sweaty she’d gotten from both her dream and contacting Ted. Alys would abruptly let go of Vastra, profusely apologizing as she’d frantically shake her hands to try to dry them. “I think I need a bath...” She‘d chuckle awkwardly. 

"Of course. I'll go gather the others, you go have a wash."

Since everyone is wearing their Magneto/tinfoil pirate hats, Vastra manually tracks down everyone in the manor and delivers the following message. "Could you come out to the hall in like, thirty minutes? There's something that Alys needs our help with."

After having patrolled the area with Stella, Yvan had retreated to his room to work on one of the projects he had agreed to help Alys with. It kept him busy for a good few hours until he hears Vastra knocking at his door. He sets aside the piece and covers it with a cloth prior to opening the door to see what it was she wanted. He had absolutely no reason to deny the cleric an audience, but he couldn't help but wonder what for.

"Of course... Is everything okay?" He asks Vastra, wanting some sort of idea what this would be about.

“Aye aye, captain! ARRR!!” Kasha salutes after Vastra gives the request.

"Alys had a dream about her mother last night. She saw her trapped on the Astral Plane." She says to Yvan.

Stella makes it to the hall just in time to catch Vastra's explanation. "Oh no! When do we leave?"