The Exploits of Misfit Company

Stella gives everyone a smile, especially Yvan. "Don't worry, I'll be careful. You absolutely have my consent, Alys," she adds. After a moment, she selects the blue vial. "Thanks, Courage, Alys. I'll be back soon." She waits for Alys to cast the spell, then drinks the vial and casts wind walk on herself, slowly dissolving into wisps of cloud and mist.

Wind-Stella flows towards the castle, keeping an eye out.

Stealth: 33 if I have adv for being literal wind, 24

Perception: 4

Guidance for lowest #: 1

With a 33, there's zero chance that the creatures are going to spot Stella. As she gets closer, Stella is able to see that these winged creatures aren't birds, but large winged monstrosities, however she isn't able to catch anything else on the monstrosities that might give her more of an idea of what they are. 

Stella, can you give me a history check as you fly towards the castle?

Stella whoosh whooshes along!

History: 23

Stella, you recognize this city with the fiery castle is Godspoint, the capital city of Riisel, although this appears to be a distorted and nightmarish version of it.

As silence falls over the party and the Misfits wait anxiously for their fearless rogue to scout ahead, Alys caught herself reflecting in on herself. She’d think about Stella and the strength behind her confidence and how Vastra held herself so tall and sure. Thinking about these women, the young elf felt inspiration stir in her heart. Song would begin in her mind and slowly, Alys began to hum and then quietly began to sing. 

"I think this castle is a nightmare version of the castle in the capital," Stella sends to Alys before continuing onwards. She's headed for the screams.

Blinking a couple times, Alys' cheeks would redden further when Stella's voice would arrive in her mind, grounding her back to this dream. "Stella thinks this castle is a nightmare version for the castle in the capital and she's headed for screams." After the words would leave her lips, her brows would knit.

Shall we start moving to catch up? The wizard would return to Stella.

"We should prepare to head out. I've checked in about moving to catch up." Alys would inform.

Once green hues could no longer see Stella, it began the timer of an agonizing few minutes. Of course he had faith in the rogue in not getting spotted. She had the assistance of Hoodini and Obsidian, along with one of Courage's strange concoctions, so he shouldn't be feeling this uneasy. The smile she gave him was one of confidence as well, so why couldn't he shake the feeling off? Was it the dream again?

The goliaths ears perked up upon hearing a familiar yet quiet hum nearby. His eyes flicker over to who he would assume to be the source; Alys. He watches the wizard begin to sing her song with softened eyes, whatever feeling of unease washing away from his system. No matter what sort of tune she sang, it always made him feel more at ease and grounded. Their eyes would meet as their hands would touch, the barbarian having reached out for her hand the same time she had.

He gives a gentle squeeze of her hand for her to continue her song as a small smile creeps up upon his lips. She looked so radiant when she sang, with flushed cheeks and a smile, even frolicking in place as well... His chest would tighten in adoration for the elf.

With her song completed and the wizard leaning back to settle on him, he would mirror her smile and quietly thank her for her song. It helped alleviate his worry, and when she speaks up with an update from the rogue, he takes a breath as his eyes scan over the castle. Stella was progressing with no issues. 

"... Right," Yvan agrees with a nod. "When she gives us the okay, we'll head out then."

Stella: The screams are coming from the castle, which you can easily get into in your cloud form. You whoosh in through a window and are able to sneak through (rolling over that 34 stealth), getting closer to the sound of the screams. As you approach the room where the screams are coming from, you find that there are some hideous pale creatures with five arms that end in spikes and they look impossibly emaciated. Fortunately, your incredible stealth and the fact that they are not focusing on you allows you to stealth past them and you are able to find the source. You find the prophetess, huddled up in the corner of this room, unbound but screaming her head off and as you examine this room further, you see that there is another door, opposite the door blocked by the creatures, but it is cutoff as the doorway is burning, cruelly trapping this prophetess and leaving her to be terrorized.

Stella sends an update to Alys. I found the prophetess. She's trapped. I think I can guide us there. Heading back now. She starts floating back towards the group.

Whereas Yvan had been ill at ease for some of the wait, the focus required for Courage's concotion over such a distance meant the artificer could hardly spare it for emotional distractions. Especially not with one, the city itself looming out int he distance, already somewhat taxing that attention. So, he found the closest equivalent of a boulder or fallen tree to sit on, closed his eyes, and ran through a sort of meditative mental exercises to pass the time.

As a result, the tiefling fails to really pick up on Alys' singing as what it was, but rather as an odd background note that seemed to persist throughout much of the exercise... Not that he could or would complain. "Hu-hm? That time, eh? Don't suppose she disocvered a path we might take along the way? At least to minimize the chances of us biting off more than we can chew along the way?" Courage asked of Alys after having pipped open the face place to rub at his eyes.

Alys would offer a sheepish smile to Courage. "Stella's heading back now. She said she thinks she can guide us there. I imagine she'd analyze an efficient route for the group." The elf nodded, emitting confidence in her response and belief in Stella's scouting.

"She can tell us the route. Worst case scenario, we have to cast Invisibility on everyone."

Courage looks a little speculative at first, but soon nods sagely after the pair say their piece.  "Good to know. Fraid my own cloaking field is a little limited in timing, so I'm afraid you ladies will be bearing the brunt of that. Though.. on another note, I hope we discover what those creatures are all about in a bit more detail along the way. The closest equivalent I know is this one emaciated platypus like creature that hangs out in the ethereal plane, if memory serves me right. But these things though are on a how another  level. " He says with a grimace. But in remembering Alys request, Courage gets back onto his feet, and takes stock of himself until Stella's return.

Soon, Stellawind lands in front of the group, the wisps of cloud and fog coalescing into the familiar form of the rogue. "Okay, this is gonna be fun," she says with grim cheer.

Survival: 4

Forgot Owl's Wisdom is still in effect: 16

Yeah, Stella has no idea what those things were. "Tell us all about the fun. What did you see?"

"We've got these weird things that look like five armed octopi covered in spikes. Plus giant winged monsters in the skies. The priestess herself is in a room guarded by the octopi thingies, with fire at the other door. She's trapped and helpless, and screaming like crazy." She frowns. "It'll be an adventure getting in and getting her out."

"Okay then. I have the ability to make all of us fly or make all of us invisible, but not at the same time and it will take up one of my higher level spells regardless of which route we take. If those flying creatures see us, we'd have to fight, which may or may not be a losing battle for us given our strength. Alternatively, we could avoid the skies and get to the castle on foot, although we don't know what the situation on the ground looks like."

Alys would lift a finger. "I can cast fly if we want to do both..." She'd offer quietly.