"Ohhhh. help with a spell. Well unfortunately I don't really know of any spell that can hide a small item and while I'd enjoy creating one with Alys, inventing a spell isn't really something that can be done on the fly. But we can have something ready for the next time we need to store a small object magically. Now, are we ready to teleport back to Father Tarkus?"

Courage initially shrugged at the first question, but started to add more before remembering the King and Queen; who may or may not have stepped a ways off to again enjoying being whole again. Either way, the tiefling wasn't gonna chance needing to explain things should they get curious about the 'Witch's' status. Regarding Father Tarkus, on the other hand, he simply nodded in agreement, and had started taking final stock to make sure his belongings were all in order.

"What?" Courage responded, seeming to tune back in again at an odd moment, before his brain catches up to his ears. "Ah... Well... I think I visited... no... Spoke someone with connections to a world that might have study a certain form of amagical, uh... er, had success in certain arenas that might've involved such a spell." He rubs at his forehead. "The formula... escapes me though. So, fraid its like Vastra here says. Perhaps with time. But, uh... yes, assuming you lot are fine with just a message to the other. Would, uh... be quite awkward if things here took an odd turn because we failed to be forthwith about, uh... looks on certain folks faces 'n... all that."

You all circle up again as Vastra attempts to Teleport everyone back to Father Tarkus once again.

68

And it goes off perfectly. No trouble this time. You report back to Father Tarkus, who is pleased to see that you are a third of the way towards gathering up the necessary artifacts. "Well done, Misfits. In the time that you were away, I was able to contact the diplomatic liaisons for Mebelis and Naraka to inform them of the danger at hand and convince them of the necessity of receiving you. Now we will be able to send you there without causing an international incident, but I cannot guarantee that they will simply hand over ancient relics that were literally touched by the gods themselves without making you go through some trial to determine your worth. If there is any business you need to conduct before leaving, you may do so, but if you are ready now, you need merely tell us where you wish to be teleported to next and our mages will create the Teleportation Circle that will allow you to warp to either Mebelis or Naraka."

"I don't speak for all of my fellows of course, but, uh... days rest would be nice." Courage admits before letting out a soft chuckle. "But that's just the old man in me talking. Unless you have any suggestions on what we might bring to either our next destination, I wager-..." He catches himself there, and looks to Alys with a sheepish grin. "Uh.. actually, uhm.. did you wanted to try making that 'thing' immediately, or wager we can get some advice on it from, uh... shoot, I forgot which one had the witches involved." He admits, rubbing his chin in thought.

Even with Yvan gently coaxing her at his side, Alys still went right rigid and flushed even more red when the subject continued. She was feeling terribly embarrassed for causing further delays by her over thinking things and getting excited for nothing. The elf just wanted to hide. She’d exhale and burry herself into Yvan’s side, wanting to wish herself into a shadow. Closing her eyes, Alys would focus on her breathing for a long time. Without taking her face from her hiding place, she could only bring herself to gently shake her head to Courage’s ask.

“Mebelis…” She’d mutter into their Goliath’s furs as if sensing Stella’s suggestion of choice. Alys wanted to refocus her attention on that instead and would try to see what she could recall, if anything, worth mentioning. 

"If you're going to Mebelis, I would suggest bringing a book or perhaps a chessboard along. Mebelis is a land of tedious bureaucracy, which I suppose is what happens when power is disbursed among the many." Father Tarkus calls for a mage, who draws a teleportation circle keyed to Mebelis. You all step through the circle and are whisked into an office with a middle-aged woman with black hair and spectacles. Her eyes dart up and down between a paper and the five of you. "Giant man, blonde elf, flamboyantly dressed elf, silver-haired woman, elderly tiefling. You must be the Misfits. Father Tarkus already sent us a message about the circumstances of your arrival, so we gave his mages the knowledge to create a teleportation circle for this college. In an hour, an attendant will come to take you to the chamber where you will be performing the Test of the Cosmos. In the meantime, you may wait and prepare yourselves for the test."    

Stella raises an eyebrow. "If you don't mind my asking, what is the Test of the Cosmos?"

 Courage face blanched the moment Father Tarkus mentioned 'tedious bureaucracy'. But unable to think of an excuse NOT to go before the portal is set up, grumbling, Coruage stepped in muttering, "Can't be as bad Mechanus at least". Almost moments later, said 'elder' tiefling t(not that it wasn't technically true!) raised a brow as well. "Indeed. We were hardly informed of such details on the matter. So stands to reason, how can we best prepare without the knowing of such." Courage chimed in, crossing his arms and eyeing the woman expectantly.

"The Test of the Cosmos is a test of your wills and minds. It is a simulated test to see if you can mold the chaotic energies of the universe into a stable creation. It's a microcosm of what the gods did when they created the universe."

Alys would stare in wonder, her eyes even darting to the others checking to see if it’s normal for her to be excited and curious. 

As Alys' eyes dart about the room, she can see that Yvan too looks curious.

Both of Courage's brows go up at the explanation; but then, he quickly shakes off the surprise, and thumbed his chin in thought over the news. "And... it's safe to assume that this sort of thing will be a, uhm, team event then? Not some, uhm... eheh. Ya know what mam, that's uh... that'll be all. Thank you. I presume we'll be guided at the time of the test on the more particular of this, uh, test."

With that said, the tiefling looked to find a seat on whatever waiting room chairs/benches were available, helmet fully down to ease rubbing a still armor enclosed hand over loosely curly looks. "... You know, I cannot help but wander if the object we are to acquire and this test aren't somehow related." He mentions aloud.

Alys would nod in agreement to both Courage’s assessments. “I suppose we’re about to find out…” 

About an hour later, a woman with shoulder length brown hair and an ankh tattoo under her left eye. She is flanked by a bunch of elderly people in robes. "My name is Anastasia Deverine XI, Headmistress of this academy, and member of the Council of Twelve. As one of the leaders of this nation, it is only right that I oversee you in taking the Test of the Cosmos in order to determine your worthiness in receiving the staff. Follow me." You all are led into a chamber where Anastasia and the other witches begin chanting. Suddenly, they disappear and the room darkens, filling with whirling energies that move every which way.

You hear the voice of Anastasia booming, coming from no particular direction. "Behold the multiverse in its' infancy. Darkness and Chaos. The gods started the process of creating the multiverse by molding this chaos into light and the elements. You will work together as a coven to do the same."

(For the Test of the Cosmos, one of you will make an Intelligence check and the other will make a Charisma check in order to force the energies in front of you to create what Anastasia is telling you to. While only one of you each is capable of making the check, the rest of you, as well as your familiars can lend aid to the person attempting to bend the energies to their will. The first person/familiar helping grants advantage to the person making the check. The second person/familiar grants a +2 bonus to the person making the check.)

"Eh, uh, pleasure to make your acquaintance, Headmistress. Needless to say, your time is appreciated." The tiefling would say as much just prior to following along behind Anastasia. When the end of their trip results in Anastasia and crew abruptly disappearing, Courage couldn't help immediately thinking the worse, and snapped a hand towards one of the many gadgets and weaponry on his person. Yet in speaking again, it still took a moment, but eventually he chuckles and looks the rest. "Guess this is it then. I'll follow the rest of your leads, and provide what help I can." He offered the group. Souperb takes that his cue to climb out and give a thumbsup assuring his own support.

(If allowed, Courage would spend a use of 'Flash of Genius' to add +4 to whoever heads the Charisma Roll as well)

Alys would step up beside Courage during introductions, bowing her head to Anastasia and introducing herself when appropriate.

Following along with the others, the elf would naturally stay close, tucking herself in with the group. Once in the chamber and the chanting begins, Alys feels her anxiety begin to creep up and just when she was about to take a deep breath to calm herself, all goes black, taking it away. Her hands would grasp frantically for Yvan, Vastra, Stella, Courage, heck even Obsidian's tail. She'd swallow a whimper and only remembers to open her eyes when she'd hear Courage's chuckle.

Giving herself a chance, Alys would finally take a breath. She'd finally start to relax with the comfort of the others around and Courage's continued wisdom. She'd nod. "Thank you. Now, and for earlier..." She'd add with a warm smile. The wizard did realize Courage's effort to engage her with her spell research and crafting. Although she shied away in self embarrassment, genuinely appreciated the gesture.

Taking another breath to focus on the task at hand, Alys would take a moment to gather herself. Touching her forehead, she'd activate her third eye, channel and review her arcane magics. The wizard would then give Hoodini a little head scritch before reaching out for Yvan hand for support for this task.

Third Eye: You gain darkvision out to a range of 60 ft., you can see into the Ethereal Plane within 60 ft. of you, you can read any language, or you can see invisible creatures and objects within 10 ft. of you that are within line of sight.
(She'd activate one of these if any of them would be more helpful than the other in their situation. If nothing special, she'd choose language thinking it wouldn't hurt.)

Greater Portent: 20 | 3 | 12
(Rolling everything at once, so if DM allows: Alys would use a portent should it be better than what either of us roll?)

Cast on self: Guidance + 1d4

Advantage: Hoodini helps

Additional +2: Yvan helps
(Vastra can help Stella if she'd like :) Meaning Stella should have: Advantage(Obsidian) +11 (3 CHA, 4 Flash of Genius, 2 Courage and 2 Vastra) and perhaps portent back up.)

Alys Intelligence Check: 16 + Guidance: 1

Stella takes a deep breath and centers herself silently, preparing to extend her will over the area in front of her. She taps into a quiet well of power in the back of her head, one she uses very rarely. Really only to summon Obsidian and for the occasional magic trick. But she tries a new interpretation, one that's been prodding at the back of her mind for a while, and focuses.

Charisma check: 26 + 7 (Psionic Talent)

With the contributions of your allies, the two of you are easily able to mold these chaotic energies into the four elements, as well as light in the form of the sun and stars. "You've passed the first leg of the test." Anastasia says, her voice still booming from every direction. "But I'd assume that the Riiselians wouldn't have sent adventurers that couldn't pass the first stage of the Test of the Cosmos to claim the Staff of Myrion. Now on to the second phase. With the building blocks of creation established, the gods moved on to their next creation: the world of Idria. Use these elements to create the planet we walk on.

Same checks, DC 14 Charisma and Intelligence and the same rules apply.

Even after seeing much in his -- in many ways -- unnaturally long life, Courage found himself nearly lost in awe in seeing the first stages of the group's work bear fruit. With it sparked other ideas that, if not for Souperb slipping out in time to tug at his horns and bring the tiefling back to the present, the elder might have very welled forgot about the test to start recording events instead as they folded before him.

With a sheepish chuckle, Courage murmurs a thanks and pets the gooey creature. "Next stage then! Remember there's order in chaos, and chaos in order, after a fashion. Do not strain yourselves trying mold every little detail. Rather, focusing first on guiding these forces. They should in theory fill in the gaps on their own, blending together to form something new and stable, if all goes well." He coaches, and would offer other pointers and suggestions as relevant when inspiration hits him. At other times he is quiet, knowing too in silence inspiration could take root. But regardless of which stance is taken or the timing of it all, Stella primarily remained the focus of what assistance he could provide on the matter.

--> Flash of Genius on Stella again, along with help from Courage.

Stella casts her mind back to atlases and globes she looked at, reaching for her power and self-control again as she focuses on shaping the power.

Charisma (plus Psionic Die): 28 + 6

(And my Psi Die drops to a d8)