Alright, Jacques doesn't notice anything untoward in the casting...
Isen replies
I have one active on myself, so don't worry about me. (he puts all his buffs on when entering the realm, and his ward is maintained by his talisman)
After hearing tranquillina
There's also the matter of the grogs. But, since Diameter duration spells last forever here, we should be able to protect everyone rather quickly if Jacques and I work together on this
It's a lvl 20 ReIg spell. Isen's CT is Re 26 + Ig 5 + Sta 2 + Aura 12 = 45. Barring a botch, he can do it even if rolling a 0.
Isen hates this, due to the botch risk (and warping), though. Hum... With AL and Philosophiae, he gets to 54. 56 with booming voice and gestures. Maybe he can do a Group version, if he rolls enough. He'll try this, the risk is way smaller. Or not, since Jacques is doing it. Which suits Isen, finally 
Hum... Doing a Per + MT roll to see if Isen notices jacques botched his last spellcasting. He isn't particularly attentive, though (he trusts jacques to know what he's doing and prefers to be alter to his surroundings) so I'm taking his awareness, which is lower (makes sense? Lower of MT and awareness?) : Per 1 + Awareness 3 (+1 determining effect?) = 5 + 1d10=8 = 13
((That is not enough to cast the spell. Would he know that it failed and have to cast it again?))
Isen has no reason to suspect that Jacques has botched the spell. Everything looks fine, and he performed it exactly as he did the others.
Technically, the CT goes to 0, yes. However, that doesn't mean that nothing happened. Jacques doesn't notice that the spell didn't take effect, and he doesn't feel that it was cast any differently than the other spells. Perhaps if there were multiple botch dice, the Twilight check might be a sign, but that doesn't apply since only one Warping point is gained, and I doubt that's noticeable. Even if it were noticeable, I'd delay the notice of it here in the Magic Realm...
I believe so.
Isen look around, and then to Tranquillina and Jacques
So. It seems that we're set. I have other protective spells, but these are useless on those in Giant form. Since only the grogs really need to be enlarged, though, I can cast Doublet of Impenetrable Silk and Wizard's Sidestep on you.
He then turns to the grogs
A word of caution. The spells that enlarged you allow you to fight the giants on an even footing. Sadly, since it imbues your bodies and equipment* with magic, it'll also probably make you unable to hurt them. So fight defensively. Protect the magi, and leave the offense to us, unless you can put your hand on a giant's weapon, whose natural state is more suited to your new size
If any grog has a problem understanding magical resistance, he'll have one of them strike him, gently at first, then with more and more force, since the penetration of the MuCo spell is way below is MR. The same thing should happen if you strike a giant, so don't try it.
He'll wait for everyone to make suggestions, cast spells...
If everyone is ready, we should warn marcus and go. The faster we strike, the less chances we occur of our subterfuge being discovered.
Sigh...
I must say that I am proud of you all. This is a dangerous mission, in a strange land, against powerful foes, to rescue a... magus who, in many ways, is still a stranger to us, especially to our grogs. Yet, here you are, willing to risk life and limb to save him. This speaks volumes to me. Be you mundane or magus, you're showing a strength of character that Flambeau himself would have loved. But beware, and don't get too cocky. Stick with your comrades, protect each other, and pray that we succeed. Towards! To Marcus!
- At least I believe their equipment was enlarged, and not granted by the blacksmith.
((Can we enumerate the grogs who are with us? I brought Falko and Jehanne; I don't know which one specifically is "Tranquillina's shield grog" and who is someone else's, or if they both are T's.))
(( tl;dr : Tranquillina's ready to go ))
"I too know few spells that can affect these giant creatures," Tranquillina discloses. "The meager offense I will be able to muster, most likely, is to sling rocks at them in the manner of your House's Vilano. Still, it might be better than nothing." She checks her satchel, making sure she has a dozen or so suitable stones therein. She also stores a piece of bark from a nearby tree, in case she needs an Arcane Connection to near this fort for some reason.
She thanks Isen for the offer of magical aids. "Fortunately, my talisman is always under the effect of Doublet of Impenetrable Silk," she says, prodding her cloak with a finger, "and I know the Sidestep as well. I will be on the lookout for situations that require a quick teleport across the room: I can be there and back behind the grogs in a matter of seconds."
((I think most of these effects have already been activated in the Magic Realm, but Tranquillina makes sure she has Gift of the Bear's Fortitude, Eyes of the Eagle, and Wizard's Sidestep going. They're all mastered (or enchantments) and her casting totals are high enough without the die roll.))
Tranquillina smiles at Isen's speech. She shares his admiration for Flambeau the Founder (though not to his extreme degree), and his words were heartening - in particular they have put her at ease, for the moment, about Isen's judgment of her courage.
Falko has had a boyish grin on his face ever since he was told that their next destination will be inside a mountain of fire. Jehanne, always misinterpreting expressions, asks him worriedly if he is injured.
Finally, if it is necessary, Tranquillina will cast her eavesdropping spell on Marcus one last time, to catch his response when he's warned that we're about to strike. ((Sta -3 + In 6 + Im 10 + words/gestures 2 + Mastery 1 + aura 12 + stress die 0 (no botch due to Mastery and/or non-stressful casting) = 28. Penetration 28 - 20 + bonus 18 = 26.))
((I'm ready to go into the Hall of the Fire Giant King™ but I have a question. Jacques enlarged his own bow but got arrows from the Blacksmith. Are those magical and thus resistable or are they native and treated like normal arrows?))
((I'm taking this story in another direction, away from combat. While I was hurling up my stomach contents yesterday, I came up with something else.))
Tranquillina is still in consultation with Marcus. I'm handwaving Isen casting the spell to ask questions.
Marcus and everyone are nailing down the details of timing when he interrupts himself.
"This may be the best diversion we can hope for. There's a lot of activity going on. Wait... A giant with blue skin and two men flanking him are coming towards my cell." Tranquillina can hear a roar, "It's so cold..."
((Do we go in or not? I'm not sure if we know where the Glacial Rift of the Frost Giant Jarl™ is located. It might be best to jump in))
Options that come to mind:
- Tranquillina keeps eavesdropping, maybe a conversation will start
- Tranquillina switches to the visual spy spell instead of the audial spy spell
- We go for it and jump in
I'm fine with any of these options, and I'm fine with Jacques deciding.
Isen thinks a moment
One giant, 2 men... I think we can do it. Even if, as a Frost Giant, he's got some resistance to Cold, I don't care, as I rely on piercing and bludgeonning. I think Jacques and I can take him, while you will easily dispatch his aides. I say we go in.
Then if Tranquillina hears nothing else we go.
As long as I have Wizard's Sidestep active, I'm ready to go. I say the words to operate the chain, etc.etc.
"You may need to suppress your Parma, if you have a high Corpus resistance."
Everyone is transported and appears on a pedestal before that appears surrounded. A man-sized figure stands before them, as if expecting their arrival. "Welcome. We've been expecting you. Come, I'll take you to Marcus." The heat of the place is overwhelming. There are several cave openings, or branches, rather, since everyone is in a cave. Surrounding the pedestal appear to be several tall pieces of stone, but they appear to be moving, or perhaps breathing. The speaker turns his back and heads off toward one of the corridors.
Tranquillina snaps off her suppression of her Parma Magica as quickly as she can, sweat dripping from her brow as the unexpectedly normal-sized unexpected greeter greets them unexpectedly. ((Been working on my writing, cancha tell?)) As she was expecting a combat situation, she looks to Jacques for leadership on whether to go along with the stranger. She also casts her senses over the strange breathing rocks, to see if they are magical creatures or under some supernatural effect. ((Per 2 + Magic Sensitivity 3 (specialized in magical creatures) + simple die 4 = 9, or 10 for creatures.))
((Is one of our grogs on fire now?))
The breathing rocks around the party are fire giants, and Tranquillina feels rather ill.
((No one is on fire, yet.))
Tranquillina quickly curtails her innate sensitivity to magic, but not in time: all of the giants around her have Vis inside them, and the total amount is too much for her. She turns around, takes a step away from the others, and retches behind a small stalagmite. Unsettlingly, the vomit hits the ground about a pace away from where it appears to come out of her mouth.
She coughs unhappily a couple of times, then straightens up and wipes her mouth, murmuring [size=85]"Excuse me"[/size]. She doesn't make eye contact with anyone, for fear of seeing their judgment.
Tranquillina keeps a wary eye on the fire giants, but if they don't make any moves, she walks out of the cavern with the others. Once they are some distance away, she informs Jacques and Isen of the breathing rocks' true nature.
Jacques will looks around and when nothing attacks, follow the man down the corridor.