Pizazz's Ravenloft and Beyond

Meepo writes his name as soon as Mordekai requested it of him.

The next morning he has the Huntsman breakfast, enjoying the savory meat as usual.

"Meepo want know what new in this place." Meepo says as he finishes a large bite of meat. "Meepo hear mud grabbing people, Meepo wonder if that new thing or normal thing..."

(-40 gold, ok.) 

Tommy scratches his head as the various people respond. "Uhh....well, there's da lower ward, the clerk's ward here, the guildhall ward and market ward. There's also the Hive. Then there's The Lady's ward.  Uh, ya, she don't live there. Well, maybe she does. She goes anywhere she wants, I guess. But, its where the barracks, or the courts, or prison, armory, all that governmenty like stuff is. Plus its thick with the rich and powerful. It's quiet there, and spacious....like one of 'em dragon chess boards. And like 'at, no moves goes without bein seen there. Pawns die there easy. Pawns...meanin us type of folk."  With the gate question and forest or woods, he scratches his head, "You want a gate to a forest? I mean...I s'pose I could point out some city gates...the better known ones I s'pose. But...it's called the city of doors for a reason! Maybe at the Hall of Info you could ask 'em where to find a gate to a forest...like on Arborea or somethin?" 

He looks at Mordekai's book as if it's going to eat him whole, "Uh...not thanks sirrah, I ain't scribblin my name nowhere like that. Names got power." 

Back to Ketch he replies, "Uh...well...I mean, not a lot o folk true Cagers like me? Most of 'em find there way here. And tales? Well....every tale you ever imagined...then ten thousand more. This place is the center of it all.....so....sorta gets it all. I mean, I heard there's a big disc out there, and all the angels and demons and like and beyond that...there's a silver sea...and beyond that there's the place prime's like you come from. I heard that nothin changes there. Doesn't matter what ya think, or a rock's just a rock. Seems strange ta me. Then past that's the elementals planes.....all that stuff. But...here....here's where it all comes t'gether. These questions got my head spinnin, lets get ya some real answers!  Oh, uh, the mud.  The mud that's been around my whole life!" 

Breakfast is delicious. After which, Tommy takes you out into the city. You can tell that the light is gradually growing still...a diffuse affair that just sorta makes everywhere lighter. Though the alleys and byways are still shrouded in shadow. Tommy keeps you to the main roads though. The city, you are starting to realize....is quite large. It must be 15 miles around, and perhaps 1.5 miles wide?  Though, what is at its 'edges' remains to be seen.  Tommy doesn't lead you too far. Down a main street called Hedge row, past an intersection down a street called Rook street, which leads to a large road that rings around a big temple like structure. "Hall of Information" is proudly displayed at the top, followed by it written in about twenty other languages. 

Tommy points to the front doors....three sets of double doors that are all open.  "Alright, good luck, i'll be here." 

As the group walks in, there's a posting on the door, "Public Ordanance 034-AC/7.  TO ALL VISITORS AND CITIZENS: HALL OF INFORMATION REGORGANIZATION.  Effective immediately and until further notice: All duties of the Public Affairs Bureau will be assumed by Ministry of Public Data. By order of the Hall of Speakers" 

Inside, you find a long winding line crowded between velvet ropes held up by bronze stands.  You get in line. You find yourself standing behind a rather pretty human woman with blonde hair in a short leather skirt and fancy bustier, wearing an open short jacket over it.  She is holding a dingy looking brown robe in her other arms.  Behind you in line, a muscled half elf, wearing nothing but a loin cloth...with an axe in his hands, and a dusty leather bag over his back.  He is tall, skinny, and lean, and has strange dusty blue eyes. His skin is so leathery brown from the sun that he looks like he's made of leather. They both mind their own business rather effectively as you begin zig-zagging back and forth in line....the time passes slowly. 

On the wall, covering an entire wall of the inside of this great hall, is "Hall of Information: Directory". 

Ulthan nods says "hrmpfh thank hrmpfh" as he stuffs himself with whatever food is there as if he hasn't eaten for weeks. While he examines the food carefully, he eats everything. He hrmpfhs for a bit, but then marks the book with an X. Despite the food before them, he still puts one of his red berries in a pot per person, and he takes whatever is left over. Ulthan looks at all the symbols everywhere but it just doesn't fascinate him as much as all the creatures wondering the city.
"hrmpfh no outside city hrmpfh" he says to the boy when talking about gates and the like.

Mordekai takes a moment to read through all of the names of the different bureaus. It's a lot to take in, but there are some that stand out. 

"I think this might be a useful place to come back to once we've found some kind of purpose. The Portal Registry certainly would be a definite place to visit, but as it costs significantly more than the others, it might be better to visit when we have something in mind to look for? The Wizards' and Priests' Registries, the Health Commission, and the Bureaus of Commerce and City Service would all be useful, for knowing who might be available to help us in various situations, but since we're not yet in any situations, visits there might be a little aimless too. Although, a quick visit to the Bureau of Commerce might be good if we had any shopping or selling to do right now?

I'd be interested in a quick visit to the Association of Heralds and Criers, to see if we can find out what some of the most recent proclamations have been - I've always found the local news a helpful way of getting to know a place...and which disguises to use or avoid." Mordekai mutters this last part fairly quietly, more to himself, reminiscing about a couple of particularly unfortunate choices he'd made in the past. "But we should definitely check out the Bureau of Customs and Traditions if we're to have any hope of going unnoticed in this place." 

Lionel shook his head in disagreement. It took more than a moment to him to study all the writings (no, the woman in front had nothing to do with it - but his height and the amount of information did) and he maid up his mind. "Do not think that Registration services provide information about already registered people, this seems to be for the government. Tommy told us were to go about selling/buying - the Market Ward. The rest should be covered by City Services. We definitely need to check out Customs and Traditions. Heralds might be worth checking as well and I am afraid at some point Employment might be matter to look into.

"However, the "Portals" is the first thing to go - this is the way out.  I think we have to split up and each go to one of the services. Portals is for those with money, I can cover "Traditions"."

Ulthan heads to one that is not being covered by the other folks and will just see what's there and listen in to conversations if any. The - 18th one. Perception 6. Investigation hopefully not required but here if it is 9. Well .... apparently he's heading to the Taxation Bureau.

"Meepo no see..." Meepo says, hopping up and down, but still only coming to the Big's thighs. "Meepo want lost and found... They have lost and found?"

     “By Gruumsh, ain’t nothing about this going to be quick,” Ketch curses.

     “The kid.  He called us primes, didn’t he? So the Prime Material Plane one might be interesting, but if they mean by Portals what I hope they mean, I say we just find one back to where we belong and hop through it...”

     Ketch will pick up Meepo by the back of his clothing, basically the scruff of his neck, so he can see.  “I see no list and found but you’re the one who finds stuff...”

"I see. So going to the Wizards' Registry would just end up with Meepo having to register? Let's not do that. I'll take the Association of Heralds and Criers, then. Always fancied myself as something of an Orator. They might not have any information, but I can always go and have a friendly chat with some like-minded individuals."

Mordekai had also had an idea for Meepo's benefit. He speaks quietly to Meepo in case the others disapprove. "Meepo, if you had a collection of skeletons, I could give them cover and disguise them all while we're in town. Perhaps we could find out where they bury their dead. Tommy might be the best person to ask that question though - less suspicious than anyone official."

"No see lost and found." Meepo grumbles. "Meepo go wherever others want Meepo go." He says glummly as he is set back on his feet.

"Meepo, either you're right, and there's nothing lost here. Or, if not, lost and found would probably come under the Bureau of City Services."

"Good, you go for the Portals, then," nodded Lionel to Ketch. "It sounds like those "Plane relations" is the information about the planes for locals, like if you are going to journey there and want to know what do they eat on that plane, but not exactly the way to get there." "So, Mordekai takes local news with Criers, I'll check local Customs and Traditions, Meepo will ask about Services. And if Ulthan is done fast with the taxes, may be he can hit the War service? We can pretend to be mercenaries and ask for deployment to the Prime?"

"Meepo like Mordekai." Meepo says, givign Mordekai a pat on his knee. "Good idea, Meepo go there." He moves to head to that line.

Based on what Lionel said war sounded way better than taxes, so Ulthan heads in the direction Lionel mentioned. He also tells the group "hrmpfh when back hrmpfh". Once in the war place spending half the time given to just listen and look around, then ask one of those weird people behind desks "hrmpfh prime work hrmpfh" and he'll try different variations until he gets what he considers a reasonable answer of yes work on prime and here it is or no work on prime. His attempts would include "hrmpfh work prime hrmpfh". "hrmpfh mercenary prime hrmpfh" "hrpfh prime mercenary hrmpfh". 

     Ketch will follow directions to Portal Registry where he looks into locations of portals to the prime plane...

Lionel eagerly marched to the clerk providing information about Customs and Traditions hoping language would not be a problem. "First time visitor" was practically written all over him and he said as much. His first question was how people here actually travel between the planes, but then - anything he could learn about the place itself.

There seems to be one long lineup, rather than lineups for each subject area.  Eventually after 45 minutes the group reaches the front and Lionel is the first one to walk up to the desk. There are several people 'serving' folks here...the name plate simply reads "Steward".  An older lady, human, with greying hair looks down at Lionel. She couldn't appear less interested, or less happy really, to be facing Lionel as he approaches her. She starts with a heavy sigh, then interrupts Lionel's first words with, "Which office would you like an appointment with?"

Lionel response with "Customs and Traditions please."

The woman turns and grabs a book out of a long open shelf containing many books and flips it open, and runs her finger down the page. In an incredibly bored voice she says, "The next available appointment is tomorrow at 3:30 AP. There is no processing fee for this appointment."  She glances up at Lionel expectantly. 

(I think Lionel was on Customs and Traditions - Mordekai was on Heralds and Criers, if that makes a difference? I'm going to imagine that Lionel is the one who's had this conversation so far, and Mordekai is waiting in line behind him)

IGNORE

That was unexpected (scrap it - it was unsurprising with their luck) but if there was one battle Lionel would not go in - it was a battle against bureaucracy. "Can I make that appointment then?" He thought a bit and added "Would there be any way to get the appointment faster?"

((We posted in the same time - if the answer to Lionel will be the same - his questions will be the same too, otherwise just disregard them))