Pizazz's Ravenloft and Beyond

The man watches the small Kobold slink away, looking like someone just killed his pet puppy. There's a momentary pause.  Then he shrugs it off and looks up to Lionel, "Uh, what was that? Armorer? Well, all the best forge's and smithy's be found in the lower ward...in the forge district. Heard good things about Anze's Anvil Smithy, just on Anvil Square...then there's Sod Dirk's Forge on Smith street...not too bad.  I heard the Seige Tower Smithy right by the Shattered Temple does good work too." 

"My thanks, I will check them out then." Lionel nodded to the man once again and returned to the group. "No-no, Meepo, you did everything right. See, when things are outside, on the streets - they are homeless and need rescue. But here, in the houses like that one, they have a special place where they live. After all, it is not called "lost and found" for nothing. With the ways this city operates, you have you work cut out for you - hundreds and thousands lost things searching for home. May be we can visit the Market Ward and find that home first?"

Lionel sounded very confident as if truly shared Meepo's passion for "saving lost things". To a degree it was truth - he cared about his friend not to be taken for a thief and knew, that though most guests here could loose a bag of diamonds and not notice it, the slightest suspicion of a theft would cost the group more than a reputation. "Shall we go? There are places to get an armor, and I would prefer to visit one before we go meet our future employer. Just for the better impression."

"If angel-man say so." Meepo says with his cloak tugged in tight and his shoulders hunched. He moves over to stand on the far side of Mordekai from Lionel. Somewhat hiding behind Mordekai.

     “Armor, then job.  Sounds reasonable...  though I suspect armor could be pricey here...” Ketch says as he stands and gets ready to depart.  
     Leaning down to Meepo he whispers “Some lost things want you to be their own home. But just be careful and only adopt those very special ones...”

"Meepo no keep lost things." Meepo says with a frown. "Meepo make sure lost things find new home." He explains. "Meepo only keep things that Meepo think should be Meepo's." He holds up the ice staff.

"Just Lionel, Meepo. Surely you did not forget me since before that unfortunate battle in the Temple." Lionel's smile remained the very definition of friendliness. "And this is why we can make a stop at the Market Ward. But armor first - fortunately I have the old one, probably someone here is able to just make it fit again."

Mordekai says quietly to Meepo, "Hey, if those things don't get home from there soon, you can always rescue them again later. But you've given them a good chance. Now, there's only one Meepo, and a whole city's worth of lost things to be rescued. You can't dwell on what's already been rescued, when there's work to be done."

As they leave and head off to the market, Mordekai commences into one of his typical monologues. This time, there's no mention of Strahd and what they'd achieved in what feels like another lifetime, on what truly was another world. This time, his speech is all about new potential, discovering untold realms, and the glory lying ahead of them on what will hopefully prove to be a magnificent journey home, filled with wondrous heroic detours.

Everyone (including Etain assuming he's leading us) gets 14 temp hp.

((Before we move anywhere, Lionel will ask Etain about mentioned forges and where would he recommend to go to re-adjust armour.))

"Meepo no think man find homes for lost things in box." Meepo tells Mordekai with a sincere look on his face. He tilts his head back, letting the hood fall back to reveal his scaled cheeks and snout. "Angel-man tell Meepo he do so, but Meepo no think angel-man right." He keeps his voice down, only speaking loud enough so that Mordekai can hear him, and glancing apprehensively at Lionel the entire time. "Meepo feel Meepo failed in helping lost hthings." He sighs as the others decide to move out, not quite sure why they are heading to the market, his lost things are back there in a box, and he can't even dump them out at the market to see if anyone wishes them. He follows along regardless, staying close to Mordekai's knee and on the far side of Mordekai from Lionel.

Etain nods to Lionel, "Sure thing, yes, the forge district is where ya'll find tha best in armorers, Lucid was right about tha. But I know a family of dwarve livin in the Lady's Ward, who run Traban's Forge, and they make the nicest stuff. I'd suggest we go there first."  He looks up at a clock, "We got plenty a time 'fore you need to be at tha address. Let's go ta tha forge district!" 

He leads you through the wide, quiet streets of the Lady's Ward, pointing out things along the way. You pass a massive sprawling complex which are the city courts, a place called the paper warehouse, which is NOT made out of paper....but probably contains a lot of paper....a singing fountain, before eventually arriving at Traban's Forge. Located in a side street near the city court, downward from the Noble District, you find a smoke-spewing smithy. Sitting in its windows you see very fine suits of plate mail that looks as suitable for a parade as it would be a battle. The armor is beautiful, though obviously still very functional. 

As the group pushes into the smokey inside of the workshop you see what looks like a young ogre near the back. He spots Mordekai and turns, slinking out of view into a backroom. Meanwhile, four dwarves work the forge, one of them is possibly the oldest dwarf you've ever seen.  A younger dwarf, though still fully an adult, walks up, "A'llo. M'name is Tarlholtson. Im Traban's great-grandson. How can I 'elp ya?"

As the Angel-man starts to talk with the armorers about armor things, Meepo takes a seat and starts working with some broken things he picked up on the street on the way here, trying to find a way to make them into something useful, or at least artistic.

Straight dex check: 9 Straight int check: 8

The broken part of a wagon wheel, and the broken piece of a leather shoe, don't seem to wish to work together though, and nothing Meepo does seems to make any difference. He ends up shoving both into his pocket after a bit, frustrated that nothing seems to be working out as he would like.

Oh, the irony! One time when Lionel would anyhow benefit from the dwarven body - and he did not possess it anymore (not that he regretted it for a briefest of moment, not to mention he would not need to come here at all as a dwarf). "Good day, master Tarlholtson. My name is Lionel and I am searching for ways to somehow made this fine piece of armor to fit my body." (He could not help to emphasize "my" just a little bit) "Do you think it is possible? Or should I forget the whole idea and try to exchange that suit for something of my size?" He unwrapped Barovian half-plate and tried his best not to eye that full plate on the display too intently and longingly.  "I can add this weapon (Lionel showed Tarlholtson the Bloodspear) if it can cover the difference in cost."

Mordekai turns quietly to Etain, "Any reason that ogre would have snuck off at the sight of me? Or do you think he just had work to do through the back?"

(Did he not like the look of Mordekai, or did he just go to fetch someone to serve us?)

     Ketch is mainly just a passenger on this trip.  He considers finding a little piece from the blacksmith's in order to allow for teleportation back here easy but dismisses the idea quickly - This place is close enough to the Fortune's Wheel.  If he picked up stones and knickknacks from every damn place he'd be a walking pile of junk in no time.

Etain just shrugs in response to Mordekai's question, seemingly not interested in the behavior of some ogre. 

Tarlholtson examines the Barovian half-plate. "Very well made, sturdy. Interesting style, very interesting. But, adjusting this armor to fit a large person would...be like remaking it from a chunk of steel. Harder in fact. However, hmmm....very nice spear, I can feel it's magic.  One moment, if you don't mind."  He picks it up and carries it into the back and places it on a table. Another of the dwarves walks over, they talk. He places a hand on it, and then they talk some more. He comes back, "Our plate mail suits are the finest, most luxurious pieces of art in all of Sigil. With this spear and half-plate, we would be open to a straight trade. There are several on display here for you to choose from that we can adjust to fit you in about an hour."

Lionel's eyes flashed with excitement - he liked what he saw before they even stepped in the forge. "I can fully believe that, your display speaks for itself". Lionel slightly bowed his head in respect to the craftsmanship. "Can I take a closer look?" Lionel was first after practicality, but needed to be presentable too (they were heading to the new employer after all). Good coverage, flexibility, quality metal - and if the package comes in silver-blue colors, even better. He walked along the suits judging each, then walked back (when your life depends of the gear you do not rush) and finally stopped in front of the one closer to the middle. "That one, if I may. Do not think I have ever seen anything better." (Even if he did, it did not matter now and the armor was perfect).

"If you don't need me to stay for better adjustment, we will be back in an hour." Lionel would not mind to stay but was not sure others shared his enthusiasm about the place.

     If Ketch can cast Detect Magic without it being obvious to the dwarves working here, he does so.  If he thinks it is too noticeable then he'll step outside for some air, cast, and then return into the shop to look about what is on display.  He suspects there is nothing here but typical dwarves smiths and their wares but it also doesn't hurt to look for that hidden gem when making an investment as such.  He focuses first and foremost on the armors that Lionel is considering but will then brows over the other items on display.  Ketch wouldn't mind an upgrade at all, if it didn't mean being locked inside a tin can...  But that would mean magical so he's not expecting it.

Meepo fishes into his pack and pulls out a few more items. As it seems they are going to be here for a while, he starts cobbling together more items into something...

Int: 11 Dex: 19

Meepo isn't very original with the idea, but manages to use a length of twine and tie together several broken pieces of board with a few feathers, into something that actually looks interesting. he looks it over and shrugs, putting the entire mass into his pack. He hums a bit now, glad to have been able to make something out of the broken bits, since he knows Bigs would rather have something interesting than a bunch of broken stuff.