"Good luck."

Nervous smile, and then she leaves.

And Elissa considers her allies.

Stalas is definitely a good pick in any situation this dicey. Clare is a solid choice, very versatile. Ambrose shouldn't go near this because if they lose him they lose the throne and subsequently the Blight. Metella is poorly suited to indoor combat but excellent if you need a lock picked or a spell dismantled, which they very well might. And Elissa herself is going because this is definitely a political mission. Stalas, Clare, Metella, Elissa, that's four. She collects the other three and heads for the alley behind Howe's estate.

It's a grimy place, full of miscellaneous trash and accumulated detritus.

Erlina is there, with a box of disguises, looking around worriedly.

Here is Elissa, and her three companions.

One of them is a bit short for a human but, as promised, passes reasonably well at a glance.

"Oh good, you are here." She indicates the box. "The armor. It will be a little loose one you, I think, but should work."

They all get into their disguises. Very efficiently.

"Lead on," says Elissa.

She shows them through a gate in the back wall that leads to a garden, then into the house via the kitchens.

"I cannot go further. My lady is in the a bedchamber in the west wing."

"Understood. We'll take it from here."

To the west wing they go. It's... honestly fairly trivial.

The real guards are apparently completely fooled by the uniforms, and don't bother actually verifying their identity. As long as Elissa and the others don't do anything too far out of character where someone can see them, they shouldn't have any problems.

Yeah, they've got this.

So! West wing! Which way to the imprisoned queen?

Well, there's only one closed door. That's probably it.

She knocks politely. And quietly.

"Who is it?" asks a muffled female voice. "I assume you're not Howe, he wouldn't have bothered knocking."

"Elissa Cousland."

"The Warden? Erlina must have gotten you, good girl." That last part is quieter.

"She did, yes."

Elissa glances at Metella.

She gazes at the lock on the door. It ceases to be locked.

The door remains shut.

That's generally what doors do when no one tries to open them.

And if they try that...?

The door remains shut.

"There seems to be a slight problem with the door," says Elissa.

"...Ah. Howe had a- mage with him, when he sealed the door."

"Ah," she sighs.