The Exploits of Misfit Company

Kasha and Obsidian poke their heads in, curious.

Yvan's brows raised slightly. "Oh..." Is all he is able to say for now, unsure of what exactly to say. When Stella proposes her question of leaving, Yvan responds. "I'm sure when Alys gets here, she'll be able to give us the details...?" He looks to Vastra for confirmation.

"She will, once she's finished bathing."

Alys would round the corner towel drying her hair. She’d pause, her cheeks would start to go pink as her eyes would fall over everyone standing in wait. “I’m s-.“ Her blue eyes would glance away before looking back to her friends and landing on Yvan. She’d stop her apology then offer a soft smile before looking away once more. The wizard would stop fussing with her towel and just hold it in her hands. “I had a dream... A nightmare.” She’d correct. “Of my mom. She was trapped. Calling out for me... Then the vision panned out to show a crystalline skull in a dark, isolated chamber. And a large castle in an abandoned white city called Nal’yeth in the Astral Plane. There are guides that could lead us there... We would have to destroy her prison to free her...” Alys would begin to fidget more the longer she spoke.

"Don't worry Alys, we'll help you save her."

Stella nods. "Like I said," she says with a faint smile. "When do we leave?"

Alys’ blush would darken more at Stella’s readiness, returning her smile. “Once B returns and is briefed.” She’d answer softly, hoping to have the support of the whole team. 

Yvan meets Alys' gaze with a soft yet encouraging smile on his lips, ready to listen to what she had to say regarding why they were gathered there. When she explains, his smile fades. He nods along with Vastra and Stella's words. "No need to question it... We'll help." He affirms. "... Does anyone know where Bixby is exactly? He's been away for a few days... Can anyone contact him?"

"I can try to contact him with Sending and hope that he's not wearing his helmet."

Vastra casts Sending, trying to get a message to Bixby. "Hi, I don't know where you are, but could you return to the manor? There's a matter we have to discuss that is quite urgent."

'Understood... and curious. I could have sworn I left a sending stone with Stella. No matter. I will return to the manor shortly.'  Bixby replied. A minute or so and some gentle questioning of the staff later, Bixby strides into the room brushing windswept hair back into place, and carrying a strange helmet under his arm while a backpack fu. But rather than sit down(assuming there are chairs available) or saying anything, he squints at everyone warily, before then nodding to himself and looking to Vastra. "What is the emergency? Has there been an... attempt?"

"There haven't been any attempts on the manor and with all of our magical defenses, I doubt there will be one any time soon. Alys had a dream where she saw her mother's spirit, trapped in some city on the Astral Plane."

Bixby lofted a brow at Vastra, and then looked ot Alys for confirmation. Though even without any words, and even if not the most insightful of people, the atmosphere speaking for itself was mroe than enough for an "I see..." out of the man.

"While there is one easy enough methods to reach that place, I would not recommend it. Rather, it would may best to speak with Dio again upon seeking a... fixed point for us to begin such a journey. As well as research into the plane. For as I understand, the rules are -- or can be expected to be different." He stated after a thoughtful pause, and no resistance compared to the feywild trip. "Out of perhaps rather morbid curiosity, did this... dream mention... showed how her spirit came to be trapped there in the first place? A personal foe of your family perhaps?" He asked, just barely resisting the temptation to look in Stella's direction.

When B would look to her, Alys would shift a little uncomfortably with a soft nod. Hearing her situation being referred to as an emergency was hard for her to swallow. She never intended to pull any one away from their own tasks for her. There was this pang of guilt that rested in her chest since Vastra called to gather everyone together. Alys was uneasy, but undeniably grateful. It was a difficult set of emotions for her to balance. 

Of course, as she had expected, Bixby would begin rhyming off his knowledge and recommendations without skipping a beat. And it’d bring a hint of a smile on her lips. Alys knew she lacked some preparation and surely missed asking an important question or two of Ted. She’d be willing to research further into the plane to further prepare themselves. The elf half expected the changelings curiosity to kick in, but it didn’t prepare her any more for his questions. Alys would exhale with a slight shake of her head. Most likely to his disappointment, she didn’t really have much of an answer for him. The only thing she had was a bit of her story.

Should they truly be curious, Alys would lead them to her room. “There was a time when my father radiated with a warm light. He was brave, courageous, even merciful... But eventually he began to turn sour and become tainted... Going mad from something... Someone?” She’d shake her head to herself as she’d move to her desk, truly unsure. She was much to young and naive. “My mother would leave on campaigns in search of a solution... Or perhaps the cause?” These were her own questions she had asked herself many times. She’d open and begin reaching into a deep bottom drawer. The archaeologist would pull out a vintage wooden case to present to them, placing it on the desk next to her (mother’s) glasses she had left behind last journey. She’d then gently lift the lid to reveal two halves of a map, both about the same in age, but one bore blood stains and spattering. “I honestly cannot tell you if these are related in any way... for I gave up on them upon our return from Chaute Island.“ Alys would confess as her eyes would fall over the two pieces, the guilt returning full force. She’d take out the unstained half first. “This half, including the box with a few of my fathers possessions... I stole when I ran away from home... I based my early career on setting out in search of this place... my parents used to tell me stories of a lost city...” The elf would shake her head once more to stop herself, forcing herself to focus on the next half. She’d inhale. “Anyway. I set out on my own journeys and studies in search of the other half... I found it.” Her eyes would close as she’d remember the scene as if it were yesterday, before she’d open them again. “In the hands of my mother’s dead body.” She’d swallow as she’d pause to pull out the bloodied map. “Again... I don’t know if it’s related...” Alys would look up to those who followed her to her room. “But these are what I have in my possession that last connects my parents.”

"I don't know if it's the same lost city that your mother's spirit is trapped in, but if your mother is trapped there, then I'll go there and help you save her. And if there's something there that's responsible for your father's madness, then I'll pursue that with you. Bixby is also right, we should research this plane before we go there."

If Bixby was disappointed in any answer, it never showed in his face. Even the mention of madness -- not that anyone else woud know to look for a tick there -- hardly received more than a quirked brow for a brief moment.  He simply took most of it in stride, and recorded what details he could in some book casually drawn out around the mid-point.

"If nothing else, it is the best clue we have considering both what I understand of the plane on the surface, and the likely extraordinary difficulty you and yours have had learning of this city... Be all that as it may, I should return to immediately town and pour over the greater libraries in regards to the plane." He said calmly, missing or having become so fixated on action as hardly miss a beat despite seeing a troubled Alys. "Though before I do, is there any that would like immediate transport to it, or is there yet more to be discussed or seen to? Perhaps further details in regards to what you and your family hope to discover in searching for this lost city?"

"We might as well all head to town to research, since we won't be able to take any other course of action until we know how to get to the Astral Plane."

(Assuming you're all going to research at the town)

Make an Arcana check. The higher you roll, the better information you find on the Astral Plane and how to get there.

Arcana: 16

With Bixby's arrival, Yvan falls into silence as Alys and Vastra fill him in on what was happening. He merely listened now, his expression focused on what information the wizard was willing to share to them. His expression would only soften when Alys admits where she found the other piece of the map, a worried glance heading in her direction. He couldn't imagine how she must have felt then, and even now with having to remember it, even briefly. 

When the changeling suggests they do some research on the Astral Plane, he agrees. It would be best to know just what they're getting themselves into instead of going in there blindly. He may not have been the strongest reader, but he could at least help in finding books or scrolls that could give them an idea of just what they might come against. Upon arriving at the town and heading into (I'm assuming) a library, Yvan does his best in assisting Alys, Vastra, and Bixby find books that would aid them in their research. 

"Very well. Stay close, and try to hold in your lunch." Bixby says as he puts on the strange helmet, takes a breathe, and then speaks some command in deep speech. Every party member there at least feel a tugging sensation at their core, see the color and shapes of their surroundings suddenly shift randomly into a chaotic mess, and then finally hear the sounding of glass shattering somewhere behind them. All of this occurring in a matter of seconds before the group are standing just off the path of a less used road into the city.

Casually, Bixby puts away the helmet completely and looks to the others with the faintest of smiles on his face. "Shall we get started?"

(Cue Research Montage!)

Arcana: 24.