Pizazz's Ravenloft and Beyond

Mordekai hands over the cloak he picked up from Barovua and hides his delight and surprise at having been granted more than he expected, and wonders about one more thing without getting his hopes up. 

"Thankyou, that would truly be a great gift. I wonder if there's one more practical thing that might be of help, if you wouldn't mind..."

Mordekai gets out his Tome and turns to a particular page. He takes a moment to touch the page, and Ketch's name vanishes. 

"I'm sure as a wizard of your experience and arcane knowledge, you recognise the magic on this page. I am able to communicate briefly with anyone who writes their name on this page. It would benefit us greatly in key moments, I'm certain, to be able to get in touch with you from afar, and I assure you, I wouldn't pester you with trivial matters. Would you be willing to sign this page for me?"

Meepo moves right up to the table and, offered a chair or not, climbs up onto one so he can actually see the wizard. "Meepo know of cloth that open up to large dimensional storage." He says to the wizard. "Meepo want way carry lots of skeletons or bodies, without having follow Meepo where Meepo goes. Can wizard help Meepo this?" He is also thinking of all of the lost things that could fit into such a storage location, his mind swimming with all of the lost things he could likely find.

It was the second (or the third?) time the wizard mentioned the possibility of changing Lionel back the way he was. It did not get less tempting (if anything, the longing only grew stronger) and still-the-dwarf had to collect all his well forgotten manners to not yell at the old man "do it already!". Instead Lionel tried to concentrate on other possibilities here. His "gift" was already mentioned (Lionel even counted it as fair - he was returned to life for a purpose, he fulfilled that purpose and if a reward was to be given, full restoration was a fair price), but it seemed at least Mordekai suddenly changed his mind and wanted to stay in that mad place.

Unlike tiefling, Lionel did have a home. Walking away from it was his own decision and even if he was welcomed there, the reasons he left did not change. He did not mind adventures, hell, he left for adventuring (directed at the fighting evil, but that's beside the point). The problem was, Barovia proved well enough that he preferred to have a saying on the matter.

"I would indeed appreciate return of my real look," (he felt like he needed to remind the wizard of it) "as of the rest... If this place is the one that affects the fate of the worlds, I am not surprised anymore by the state of those worlds. But regardless, for us right now it is much more of a cage rather than a place of opportunities. Can you show us the way back home so the decision to stay or go, or visiting would be our own?"

Ulthan's off to the side hearing a lot of words and having trouble remembering most. He tries one more time "hrmpfh why not portal place hrmpfh" but seeing it goes unheard again he just shrugs and continues to look around for a corner that is not likely empty of others. At least he can try to be somewhat out of the way of the serving wenches or the things that pass for one around here.

     “I’m a simple man.  My father was a simple man.  My mother was a simple woman.  Combined they created a simpleton.  And here I am being offered...  I don’t even know what... by perhaps the greatest wizard ever,” Ketch says, hesitantly, trying to figure out his best ask here...

     “when he’s not crazy as a loon, anyway,” he adds, mostly under his breath.

     “You say here one can affect many worlds at once. That’s good, I guess.  If that’s your thing.  Some people like to juggle geese, I don’t judge... But I like simple things - companions, a straightforward fight, a fine drink after. Changing multiple worlds at a time?  Sir, I’m not even looking to change one.  Put a situation in front of me and I’ll tackle it, the rest I’ll leave to you big thinkers...”

     “So what am I to ask for?” Ketch mills, still considering.

     “I want to go where they go.  To fight besides them when fighting needed, to heal them after so we can fight again.  These things I can do just by being at their sides...  This I do not need to ask for.”

     “But perhaps...  I do not know if possible but, a way to cut out the boring traveling?  All the time we fight here then have to travel for hours or days to get to where we fight next...  i have seen people pop out of a place, or into a place.  Telepop.  No, no... Teleport?  Perhaps some spear or magic helmet ((spear and magic helmet??)) that could teleport us to where we need be next....”

     “As I said, changing worlds? That’s for people such as you, those far more qualified than me...  I just want to glory in battle, rest, heal, then fight the next fight,” Ketch says before finally stopping his rambling on... He truly had no idea what the wizard could provide or would think was too much, but if he could eliminate all the time they spent traveling over mountains or from town to town...   why not?

((did not mean to ramble on so much... just posting between interruptions at work and kept losing train of thought.))

((Rambling is what we do here so the others have something to read between their interruptions at work :) ))

((Except fridays... Friday’s tend to be so quiet I end up joining 3 new games that I immediately want out of...))

Mordenkainen looks at Mordekai and his book with a raised eyebrow and a bit of a suspiciousness.  Then he shrugs, "Ahhhh, what the hell. You guys got me out of that hellish Barovia, least I can do is that I 'spose.  Though...you must promise that if I ask you to erase my name, you will do so.  You don't want an angry mage finding you....and...I can."  He pauses, waiting for the affirmation, before scribbling his name down in the book. 

Mordenkainen looks to Lionel...."You'll also need to come with me tonight so that I can perform the ritual on you. And...ah...clever ask that. Unfortunately I've no such luck. I don't know where your home is, but I don't know a portal to it. I DO know a permanent portal to the town of Ribcage, and from there, my own personal magic can take you poor sods anywhere on the outer or prime you wish to go....but I'm not your personal plane shifting servant. And I think I count you out of favors. That said, I'll share the portal to Ribcage with you."  He scribbles some stuff down on a piece of paper, then hands it to you. "That is gold here...don't lose it, don't share it."  The paper, which you read later, says, "Park of the Infernal and Divine, 2nd bench on your left from the spikeward entrance. Sit, with a Bariaur rib bone in hand, and say, "Castix".  You'll appear on a similar bench in the town of Ribcage. Return trip is the same." 

Mordenkainen patiently listens to Ketch's rambling, a grin on his face, that seems to grow as the rambling proceeds.  He looks you up and down, "Compared to your poor friends here, you're practically draped in magic good man. I have a thing that will do what you want, but, it'll require you to attune yourself to it. It's...precious to me, but..I owe you, and an item is a reasonable request for saving a man's existence."  He pulls a purple gem the size of an eyeball out of his pocket.  He sighs heavily, then crushes it in his fist. A helm appears in his hand.  He slides the Helm of Many Places over to Ketch.  (I've already added it to your character sheet). 

He looks at the Meepo....an eye up, "You are a most surprising creature in many ways. Ya, sure, fine, here....don't get lost in it."  He crushes another gem in his hands...and a black piece of fabric appears.  He hands the Portable Hole to Meepo.....while rolling his eyes...and shaking his head a bit, "What trouble you'll get into with this...good luck." 

Finally he glances at the giant mountain man with his bow, and mouth that seems as if it's sewn shut. "I suppose you don't know what to ask for. You know...as a wizard, I end up with small horde of magic armor I don't want."  He excuses himself from the devilish girls space and crushes yet another gem.  A large box appears on the floor. He motions to it.  Ulthan pops it open and sees a suit of half-plate made from some strange grey metal.  "It's a Mithril suit of half-plate.  Magical to boot.  Only a bit but....its still worth a fortune. Thanks."   (item added to inventory).  "Also....you look like you could solve a problem I have for me.  Go here...there's a man who owes me something...but all he has is these damned animals. He keeps nagging me to settle his debt by choosing something, but what am I going to do with a darned animal...."  He hands you a paper with an address on it.  "I'll make sure he knows to expect you."

He glances about, "Well, I'll be here for a few more hours, then, when I'm ready to retire, dwarf, I'll come find you and we'll take care of your..." he waves his hand vaguely in the air, "....you situation."

It was so crazy that Lionel did not even considered the mad writing as a bad joke. The words fit perfectly to the general madness around and he simply stared at the paper, memorizing them, even if by far not fully understanding. Then he hid the paper in his most inner pocket and nodded to the wizard, that finished accepting requests. "I will follow you then." Something was nagging him, something bound to the name of that place with "free teleport"... Finally he just asked "Why is that name - Ribcage - sounds familiar? What is that city exactly? If we end up there I would prefer to be prepared."

"Hmph, you don't need an archmage to teach you outlands geography. I'm sure your tout can take you some place where you can learn all about it. Now, if you don't mind, I have a few more hours to enjoy with my friends here, before we head off." 

Ulthan "hrmpfh thanks what address hrmpfh" he says looking longingly at the piece of paper. Assuming he gets told he asks the kid how far it is and how to get there.

If Ulthan (or anyone else, of course) wanted to read the paper Lionel showed it before hiding the thing away. He still did not understand those random actions have to do with plane shifting, but if it does, the more people remember that gibberish, the better.

He was still unsure about the destination, though, because for some reason in his head the name strongly associated with Nine Hells. Well, guess they will see when they get there.

"You think we can rest here a bit, while our friend enjoys his evening?" Not that he liked it here, but did not want to loose the wizard once again and would prefer to be fully prepared before venturing into their new life.

     Scanning the scrap of paper that Da Lionel let him peek at, Ketch screws up his face in a quizzical expression and literally scratches his head.  "That nonsense makes no sense to me, but what do I know of wizards?  Still, couldn't hurt to try to get a more sober Mordenkainen to proofread it before we tried it."

     When he is given the helmet Ketch's jaw drops and he, intelligently, says "uhhh...  thanks!?!"  Ketch truly wasn't even sure what he was asking for and for as much as he did he figured he was asking for too much.  Now, holding this item, he's thinking he got even more than he asked for.  It's too shiny, too fanciful, but Ketch is sure after it gets a few dings, a little grime, and perhaps the Eye of Gruumsh painted there on the front that it'll fit him just fine...

     To Ulthan Ketch says "I'd be happy to accompany you on this mission to choose an animal...  Though I admit, I am also very curious just what the new and improved Da Lionel is going to look like."  While saying this, Ketch jams his new helmet upon his head - mostly so as not to stand there holding it in his hands - and shifts it this way and that until it is comfortable.

((Ketch happily unattunes from the Luck Blade and to his new helmet.))

((Lionel would as gladly pick that Luck Blade - adds insignificant but still some more damage))

"Meepo thanks mad wizard guy." Meepo says as he hops off of the chair he was standing on. he immediately opens up the cloth, spreading it out on the floor, then jumps inside. There are a lot of "Meepo like..." From inside the hole in the floor as Meepo moves around inside. Eventually he climbs back out and, after folding it up, moves over and gives the wizard a hug. "Meepo thanks..." He says again.

((Luck Blade is Lionel's...  Not sure why Ketch took as he was never going to wield it. But +1 to saving throws and Luck. If the sword is on your person, you can call on its luck (no action required) to reroll one attack roll, ability check, or saving throw you dislike. You must use the second roll. This property can't be used again until the next dawn. are both nice...  Anyway, I've deleted, go ahead and add and equip!))

((Added. May be now he has a chance to make at least one Dex save. If Ketch wants Mace of Terror - he can have it, though, that would need an attunement too))

((Thanks, but Ketch will pass.  No bonus to hit and his axe does better damage...  Plus Ketch is against forcing enemies to flee.  He turned Strahd, and that likely galled him later, but that dude is a slight exception...  Ketch loves the battle, he wants his enemies closer, not fleeing!  But mainly axe does more damage.))

Staying at the Fortune's Wheel is certainly possible. The place is luxurious and fine. The rooms seem normal sized, even extra large, and it is expertly appointed. Though..all that comes at a cost. It is 10gp per room, max 2 people per room, per night. As well, having dinner here is going to cost you.  

Bill of Fare

Abyssal Beef - Roasted Long and Slow over our Finest Coals - 5 gp

Divine Dogmeat - Quick Seared in the fires of Baator to a Raw and Bloody flavor - 3 gp

Hangman's Ham - Served with Spiced Arborean apples and Arcadian eggs - 2 gp

Final Supper - Horse flank, seared adn served with a chicken broth, green tea dumplings, and a vegetable medley from the Outlands, lightly seasoned with arsenic for our tiefling customers (by request) - 6 gp

Potables

Ale - 1 sp

Lager - 1sp

Bitters - 2 sp

Mead - 4 sp

Firewine - 6 gp

Pure Water - Market Value

Meanwhile, the note that was handed to Ulthan had an address on it in the Lady's Ward not too far away, so Ulthan and Ketch head to the location. Etain goes with you, chatting along the way about this and that, none of which his two escorts really care to listen to or follow. Blah blah factor, blah blah berk, blah blah blah.  You find a warehouse on a quiet back alley in Lady's Ward, so not too far away. One of the warehouse doors are open and there are people moving here and there. You wander in. It smells of a farm in here and you see cages everywhere with all manner of beasts in them. A human man in his 40's with a grey'ing chin beard and scraggly hair, wearing a thick leather smock that looks like it's been gouged more than once with sharp claws approaches. 

"That damnable wizard gets me bent over a barrel and then good and vanishes for a bunch of years. I think I'm free of my debt then he just saunters into Sigil like noth doin! He said yer here to collect. This way...the premium animals are over here....." 

He leads you around a maze of stacked cages and crates and you see he's laid out three crates in particular. In a larger one, a spotted white snow leopard pads back and froth impatiently. In another...more of a cage configuration, there is a snake wrapped around a central post, wings on the back of the snake lazily flapping keeping part of it's body afloat. In the last...a massive crabs squats in a leather lined pool half filled with water. The creature crouches there, it's eye stalks moving back and forth while it's massive pinchers clack slowly open and closed. "You of course can have anything you want, but these three really are the cream of the crop."

Ulthan looks around "hrmpf thought babies hrmph" after a moment "hrmpfh Utazo hrmpfh" he tells the cat after looking at the other two. To the human caretaker "hrmpfh cat hunt once out where hunt grounds here hrmpfh" "hrmpfh how long here hrmpfh" "hrmpfh what history hrmpfh". Perception 18. Animal Handling 12. Trying to gauge health, and age. Insight on man when he talks 15.