Pizazz's Ravenloft and Beyond

The green skinned man, still standing, hops back and forth a bit and looks at Salrius then at Ketch. Things seem to work through its mind as it considers.

*COUGH COUGH COUGH* It has a phlegmy gross cough.

It then continues...though it seems to pause irregularly and choose its words carefully, "This magic wand is a potent item! It can be used as a club without fear of damaging it. It can also cast several necromancy spells using charges. Also, if used right, it can summon undead for temporary usage. I don't know if it has any bad things for whomever may take it. My only goal here is to trade this wand for that staff."  With a snear he adds to Ketch, "Does this meet your requirements? Salrius can tell you I have not lied. Now...you tell me about the staff! And same things you asked for! Salrius will tell me if you lie!"

     "Meepo?  You're turn... and you can also ask any questions you want to ensure this trade is on the up and up..." Ketch says, having not really paid too much attention as he's not the one who will be wielding the new wand.

16 Ulthan shrugs at most.

"Meepo find staff in temple." Meepo says with a shrug. "Meepo use to make wall of ice, send harming cold out to hurt enemies, and other cold-based magics." he frowns. "When Meepo first picked up staff Meepo no liked fire, but no problem for Meepo now." he shrugs as if to say do what you want with that. "Staff make Meepo no mind cold either." He would not try to hold anything back, so would list all of the spells the staff can cast, as well as that it takes charges to cast them.

"Meepo just want trade staff for item of same power, is this item of same power?" He frowns and would turn to the merchant. "Meepo want cast Detect Magic, so Meepo can tell if items of same level of power..." He will start to do so unless someone tells him that is not allowed.

Meepo casts Detect Magic.  He knows that detect magic doesn't reveal any sort of differential in magical power, just the presence, or not, plus it's school.  He can't compare the staff and wands power in that way, but he does see that the staff is Evocation magic, while the wand is Necromancy. 

The creature mutters.."Yes.....staff of ice. This is what I want. This wand is more powerful, but I will trade it for the staff. Ice is cold."

Salrius seems to cast a few spells at each item. Once done he nods, "Neither is tied to any summoning magic or bound to any individual through a number of spells I know of. Not including attunement of course, I don't have a spell for that.  But....I see nothing suspicious about either item, so you both have my seal of approval that the items appear true. Do you both agree?" 

The creature nods, giving the wand an extra shove further away from himself, as he hops back and forth two feet. 

Meepo nods and hands over the staff.

Salrius uses mage hand to exchange the two items. The creature reaches out and grasps the ice staff. He seems to covet it in his hands, and then nods, "Most excellent, we are done we are done and now this is mine." It hops back and forth and quickly heads for the door. Salrius clears his throat and follows him.  The creature fishes a small bag from under his robe. Salrius examines a few small gems from within, then nods, and turns back into the room. 

Meepo reaches out and picks up the curved boney spine wand/mace thing. He can feel the magic tingling in his hand. Well, no immediate effect, but of course it will require attunement. 

"Well, I can't say I'm not glad that one is over, creepy fellow. Now, I think there's the matter of my fee, and then, feel free to stay in this private dining room for the night, I rented it all out, and the food and drink is paid for." 

When Meepo eventually takes the time to identify the wand, which can function as a mace he determines its powers. I've added the "Wand of Never-ending Night" to your character sheet. 

Mordekai will cast Greater Invisibility and follow the stranger out, not getting close enough to intervene in anything they do, but just to observe. 

As he leaves the room, he'll say, over his invisible shoulder,  "I won't go far, and I won't get into trouble. I'm just curious."

All these important talks and slow exchanges (but mostly delicious smells in the air) finally made Lionel hungry. He shrugged and begun to taste the specials of the place. If they were about to wait anyway, he would rather spend this time eating.

Meepo would be concentrating on the wand, at least until he has it identified. Only then would he settle back and seem content to start eating again.

((I believe fee was 500?  Plus 900 for previous items, 1400 deducted from Party Fund. We still have just north of 30k))

     Ketch watches everything with a wary eye but mostly considers his job done so intervenes no further.  He lets out a sigh of relief when the transactions are done and asks “We happy?” to Meepo.  he then pays off their broker and advises in the future he is likely to be interested in a Bag of Holding or two and possibly something that could store spells for future use….  “As our riches grow, so too will our appetites, eh?”

     As Mordekai vanishes to satisfy his curiosity, and Lionel starts tasting the various foods to satisfy his, Ketch finally relaxes.  After ten or so minutes of no trouble, Ketch goes back to the shops they saw before the private room and partake of the barbershop… “Full treatment,” he insists.  “Let’s get this servant of Gruumsh all polished up!”

—-

     After the barber, if we’re not rushing off to the portal then Ketch will look for an armorer and inquire about having some Plate Mail fitted…

The food is delicious, as are the strange drinks that are brought to the table. The Slaad legs are extremely flavorful and tender. Though a few bugz buzzin about in the air are a bit distracting. Also, having seen at least one Slaad walking the streets of Sigil, you're not sure how they get away with this. Your mind then starts to wonder if there are other....food options available in Sigil that.....*gasp*.....maybe thats where the dead bodies go?  You shake your head clear of your strange thoughts as you finish the delectable meal.  

A bug crawls across the table and is crushed by Ulthan's hand. It's crunchy carapace flicked over to the ground. 

Ketch is soon shined up and trimmed like you've never seen him! He looks so prim and proper after a hair cut, nails trimmed, ear and nose hair plucked, and eyebrows trimmed. The barber shop had also put some sort of cream on his face and his skin felt all soft and new. He'd even brought in an assistant to file down his calluses a bit. 

Mordekai returns only a few minutes later. The strange creature went out into the street, into an alley way and then *pop* twisted reality and vanished with teleportation. 

Ketch inquires if the group wants to leave immediately or if they have time to go get him fitted for some plate armor.

Lionel nodded approvingly to Ketch's new look, which now outshined his. "As I recall it takes just a few hours if they have already something to work with. I think we can afford that much time as preparation. Let us check the smithy".

The group takes a side trek back through the market to the Lady's ward. The city hangs above you as the light grows, though its light shimmer and twinkle through the smog that hangs in the air in the middle of the massive ring. You arrive back at Traban's Forge, this time much richer. You look around the shop, but it's the magical suit of armor in the back that catches his eye. The armor, made from green steel, has intricate engraving all across it. It looks like a piece of art....but also like a formidable piece of armor. 

"Aye...that's a nice suit. As a bonus, we don't even need to size it. It matches ta fit the wearer. It's got the 2nd sphere of energy on its wards and grants resistance to fire damage, havin been forged of Abyssal steel. Dunna worry, the taints are all withdrawn from tha steel 'fore we work it. It's a deal at 10,000 gold. If ya want somethin less fancy, but still high quality, we 'ave another suit 'o steel in the back, first sphere wards on it, and nothin else too special. That'll only cost 3,000 gold." 

(+2 plate mail, resistance to fire damage, resizes to fit any medium creature. Don/doff time is 1/2.  So 5 minutes to don, and 2.5 minutes to doff.) 

     Ketch considers it all carefully.  He's eager, very eager to get his hands on the green steel armor...  But he thinks he's probably overstepping his need.  "It all looks marvelous and I am very interested," he tells the person waiting on him.  "Please, give me a few moments to consult with my allies..."

     Pulling the others into a corner and huddling up a bit, Ketch consults with the others.  "It is group funds, after all.  And I have already dipped into them a bit to get a new axe.  But what I am thinking is this...  Lionel and myself could both benefit from the magicked armors they have here.  What if we could make a deal with the shopkeeper?  I have about 2,000 gp worth of goods and another 1,000 worth of personal gold.  So I could purchase the lesser armor myself.  And then if we did into the part funds for the other armor, that could go to upgrade Sir Lionel and both he and myself would be better protected.  And our being better protected, I think, would help the whole group.  And we'd still have more than 20,000 left...  and whatever our next payday is could go mainly to benefit you others..."

So if nobody in the part objects Ketch would offer:

20 amber teeth worth 100 gp each - 2,000gp

1,000 personal gold 

10,000 party gold

His own Splint mail

Lionel's Plate Mail

In exchange looking for both the +1 Plate for himself and the +2 Plate with fire resistance for Lionel....

(This would put Ketch up to 24 AC and Lionel up to 23, I believe)

Lionel looked over his so new and shiny armor remembering hours spent here while adjusting it and nodded. "Defence is always good, you can not count for the first strike to be the killing blow. I still have a thousand gold from that beholder adventure, we can use it too."

"Meepo say do." Meepo speaks up, considering he has his new wand, he doesn't see why these two shouldn't get new armor. He nods in excitement at the idea of his friends being better protected.

Ulthan suddenly turns pale as the dawn of realization hits brain an hour or so after starting to slaad legs. He's had an awful lot of goliath steaks ever since he got here.
"hrmpfh better armor less kill more distraction get armor hrmpfh" he says a bit later after apparently consulting with the cat.

The splint mail and the plate are traded in for 1000 gold, meaning you need only 12000 in total funds to purchase both. 

The more mundane suit of armor takes a couple of hours for the smiths to adjust for Ketch, but in the end, your paladin with golden hair is decked out in magnificent green abyssal steel plate mail, while your half-orc is wearing a suit of steel plate that is a bit dull, but in a fashionable sort of way, less shiny but that says 'i'm a serious fellow'.

Finally ready to go, it's afternoon when the group returns to the closet at the end of the alley. They pry open the door, push aside some brooms, speak the special words and step through into another world. It's low tide and the sun is shining in this other world. The gravel the fills the bottom of the cave crunches under your feet. The first cave is still full of water, but it's still and clear, full of sea life that makes its home in this large dark tide pool. Beyond, there is no sign of the dragons return and the lair is quiet. Though it still glows dimly from the magical lights in the ceilings. Looking at the map, you see where the symbol of the coral spine out front of the cave is marked. The ocean tide is out, but the beach here is fairly steep gravel and shells and so the water is only a few feet from the edge of the cave. You notice an overgrown path that switches back and forth up the cliff behind the cave. 

Ketch, getting used to the movement of this new plate feels a bit like a man in a big box. His splint mail was big and bulky, but light compared to this heavy stuff that hangs on his body. It's no issue for his strength, it'll just take some getting used to. He remembers training in this stuff, so it'll come back to him, but he clanks uncomfortably and finds himself breathing heavily as he follows Lionel up the cliff face. The Aasimar moves smoothly, well used to the armor as they clamber up the cliff face. Atop the cliff the part is greeted with rolling hills full of flowers. The land stretches of for miles and is quite pretty. Small bees, flies, and other bugs buzz through the air, along with what look like sparkling motes of light....though Lionel watches as one of them pauses briefly on a flower pedal and he sees it looks like a tiny person in gossamer clothes...but as they zip off they are once again a mote of light. 

To the inland side of the world, East according to the map, you see distant snow capped mountains amidst puffy white clouds. Compared to the mountain range in Ravenloft, with a few peaks, this range is massive, stretching across the horizon with mountain tops vanishing into the distance skies. To the north the land is just lost in hills, and the same to the south.  Both edge along the ocean cliffs to the west. 

There is no path here, but the map shows a road to the east and some paths that seemingly will lead you into the mountains. Based on this, the trip may take several days and be miles worth. It looks like there may be some camping in your future, especially since there are no markings for towns on your map. 

Any 'standard operating procedures' while you travel? 

((Splint, Amber Teeth, 1k from Ketch and 9k from Party Fund all deleted... +1 Plate added to Ketch.))

     Grumbling, shifting and tugging at his new armor, Ketch feels like a foot in a brand new shoe.  Oh it'll break it in and be as comfortable as if it was a natural part of it soon enough but right now it was miserable and cranky and nothing felt right.  Not that Ketch would ever complain, he pointed out to the others constantly.  "I am nothing if not stoic," he adds, before grumbling some more.

     At the door of the closet Ketch tells the others he has some magics to do.  "This'll take a couple of hours.  You all could explore the wizards hideout some more of head towards the mountains and I'll catch up.  But I think some deterrent upon the doorways is wise..."  

     On the inside of the door from the alley to the closet, Ketch casts a Glyph of Warding set to go off whenever the door is opened without the password being spoken first. The password disables the Glyph for 2 minutes so that Ulthan's cat doesn't set it off by not being able to speak the password. The password set is "Password" as Ketch has not really learned much about proper password security or had to deal with hackers...  This Glyph is set for Explosive Fire Damage (5d8 damage or Dex sa ve vs DC 18 for half. -- When triggered, the glyph erupts with magical energy in a 20-foot-radius sphere centered on the glyph. The sphere spreads around corners. Each creature in the area must make a Dexterity saving throw.)

     Ketch would cast Glyph of Warding again on the new world side of the portal.  This one would be an Explosive Thunder Damage glyph to hopefully also alert us of trespass. Again the password would be "Password" and the conditions would be anyone coming through the portal from the other words without saying the password within 5 seconds. You can leave this new world without dealing with this glyph, it's only triggered by entering via the portal and not saying the secret password...

     "If we do want to set up here long term I will lace a multitude of glyphs upon the doorways and portal such that nothing could get through without enduring all kinds of damage or wasting all kinds of magics dispelling things," Ketch would explain.  "I don't want to hold us up or drain myself too much right now but the longer we stayed, the more I would make traversing that passage uninvited an armageddon level mistake..."

     Once done, Ketch would take off to catch up with the rest of the group, either at the lair or beyond... 

     Traveling procedure wise Ketch would suggest Ulthan and cat (sorry, forgetting cat's name) scout ahead carefully while the clunkier of squishier sorts take a leisurely walk at a much further distance so as not to reveal us?