Pizazz's Ravenloft and Beyond

     Ketch just intends to be a companion here, an observer.  This is Ulthan's thing, he's just tagging along... In case.  As such, Ketch hangs back and will be observant of the place and the man, but while Ulthan is more interested in the animals, their health, and such (Ketch imagines) Ketch is more trying to determine just what kind of business is going on here, guessing at the relationship between this man and Mordenkainen to determine how wary or relaxed they need to be, the man's general trustworthiness...

Perception: 8

Insight: 27

     Ketch will also help translate a bit, if Ulthan doesn't look annoyed by it.  Ketch will ask "Any younger animals, my friend here may wish to raise them up trained how he wishes..." and "How often do these animals get out to run free?  To hunt?  Tell us what you know of the white cat...  How long have you had them?  Any problems?"

     If Ulthan's eyes narrow at him or he seems bothered by Ketch playing go between, Ketch will quickly bow his head in apology and take a couple steps back behind Ulthan. 

The man, for all him and his operation appearing rather sketchy, does seem to "know animals" pretty well, and seems to have a vast variety. There are people here moving about, feeding animals and caring for them. His equipment, and how the animals appear seem to indicate that he knows what he's doing. But, exactly WHAT his business is....is another matter. Does he move them about, trade them, sell pets....it's....hard to say, but he seems to have creatures from all across the multi-verse, so the variety here seems remarkable...and there are MANY strange creatures in amongst his warehouse.

"The cat comes from the wild, it hunts. It's young, just a teen still...though has a minimal amount of training...so that it knows not to attack people...and listen to some basic commands. I've only had it for a couple weeks....otherwise it came straight from the snowy parts of the Outlands." 

It appears healthy as it walks in impatient circles in its large cage. 

As far as both of you can tell, the guy seems on the up and up. 

After trying one more time "hrmph where hunt here hrmpfh" Ulthan says "hrmpfh cat please thanks buy cat treats hrmpfh" in case he has any for sale. To cat he points at himself and says "hrmpfh Ulthan hrmpfh" then points at cat "hrmpfh Utazo hrmpfh". After being given the cat, he tries to make friends with it letting it sniff, and also takes out two red berries, eats one and offers cat one. If cat doesn't take it he puts it away. When meeting with kid asks kid "hrmpfh where forest/mountain hunt thanks hrmpfh". But otherwise heads back to the main group hopefully with cat in tow on a leash rather than it attached to Ulthan's neck. Avoid small creatures for now, interposing myself between them and the cat including potentially ensure to walk close to the wall. If they say cat can't come in, he nods, and waits outside with the cat.

The man nods, and says to Ulthan, "It's a snow leopard, it will hunt anywhere it can, the forest, the mountains, the plains, heck...probably even in the sewers of Sigil should it get a chance."  He watches as Ulthan tries to feed it, "No no no, it won't eat berries..."  The cat sniffs the berry, and then grabs it out of Ulthan's hand and begins chewing on it with loud chomping noises.  The man looks at it and shrugs, "Cats. They make no sense."  

He hands Ulthan a leash and collars the animals, "While in town, if you're going to keep it with you, it must be collared, Sigil rules. It's a cat, it doesn't like it, so just let it droop, don't pull on it, and it will follow you.  Make a tapping motion like this on your leg and it will come and stand right there. Now, yes, cat food, quite right. I've got these fish flavored jerky strips, in the case it stops eating your berries. No charge, take 'em, just let that damned wizard know we're square.  That's a week's worth at least. Alright, alright, out of my hair now." 

To the teenage Etain Ulthan speaks. He looks up at the big warrior, "Uh...there's no huntin places in Sigil. If you want to hunt, yer going to need ta find a portal elsewhere. You all seem to know some high ups though, some of 'em have private huntin portals....so, you could always ask round." 

Quickly enough Ketch and Ulthan return to the Inn. People show great interest in the cat, and people come over to chat to Ulthan while wanting to pet it. Its growls, and Ulthan's growls, seem enough to turn them away.  A couple hours at the Inn seem to pass pretty quickly.  Mordenkainen motions for Lionel to follow him, "I'll bring him back safe and sound tomorrow morning....so long for now." 

Where do the rest of you stay?

"They serve supper with the arsenic here!" Mordekai says excitedly to the others, but quietly and discreetly enough that hopefully no other patrons notice. He doesn't want anyone to realise the group aren't regularly accustomed to this kind of luxury. "I'll cover the costs, let's stay here. It's not like we need a third room, if Lionel's off with the wizard."

Mordekai doesn't often have much to spend gold on, and considers this keeping up appearances- or rather, creating appearances- to be exactly what gold was made for. He's often found that spending a little gold in a place like this tends to pay a good return, either in profit or in fun. He'll pay for two rooms for the night, and whatever meals the others want. For himself, he'll order the Final Supper (with arsenic) and the Firewine. 

((Just to clarify, the Final Supper is an actual meal, named so because of the arsenic as a touch of the theatrical? Rather than actually being some kind of Tiefling euthanasia?!))

32gp removed. 

((I suspect it's because arsenic is a deadly poison (slow and extremely painful death) so for most of the creatures without immunity to poison it will be indeed the very final supper))

Lionel found himself too concentrated on the process of transformation, he could only nod in acknowledgment that he heard the information (about the group staying here). Even that took a serious effort. The-still-dwarf felt anxiety(?) - he did not know how to name the feeling and was not accustomed to it, last time experiencing something distantly similar at the dubbing ceremony. All the way to the wizard apartment Lionel was silent, trying again and again remember himself - as funny (or tragic) as it sounds. He stepped inside with the great anticipation. 

(Yeah, it said the meal came "with arsenic for our tiefling customers, at request" which could be taken either way. But tieflings aren't resistant to poison, they're resistant to fire. Maybe a discussion about the arsenic content of a meal in a D&D tavern means I'm overthinking things!!)

Ulthan makes sure to introduce the cat to all party members but will also ask the kid "hrmpfh sewars good bad for hunt know entrance everything there ok to hunt or same law above hrmpfh".

"Meepo thanks Mordekai." Meepo says once Mordekai offers to pay for food and rooms here. He settles down, ordering some food as he watches the room around them.

     Some Hangman’s Ham and Firewater will fix Ketch up just fine.  After dinner Ketch will excuse himself before going to the rooms.  “Just getting some air,” he explains and then basically takes a walk around the building.

     From a side alley or behind the building, ketch will look for a small, loose bit of pavement or building rock or such.  Some small reminder of this place he would be able to focus on in order to return here...
     Later in the room he will carve a small but clear number 1 into the piece, then place it into a small sack he will wear tied to his waist.  In his book, in the back, he will write “1 - Sigil -Lady’s Ward- Fortune’s Wheel - Mad Mordenkainen” to remind himself.

     If/when any of the others ask he’ll explain that it’ll help to teleport to the right spot if he has an object from it...  So he intends to become a bit of a hoarder of small objects.  “Notes will help me recall which is from which...”

     Otherwise Ketch tries to get a bit friendly with Utazo.  Well, friendly may be too strong a word.  He tries to get familiar enough with the beast that they don’t feel the need to growl at one another, at least... “Be careful that Molo doesn’t try to take him over as a mount,” Ketch warns with a bit of humor.  “All that warm soft fur surely more comfortable than one of his skeletons...”

     Finally, Ketch would sleep best he could, curious what changes are happening to the dwarf.  He’s not even sure what they were originally so he has no idea what to expect...

Arsenic in specific is an aphrodisiac for Tieflings, in small amounts. Large amounts is still poisonous, but just the right and they get sorta drunk/high off of it.  All Tieflings know this....  :-)

Being in the room for a couple hours before bed, the group does indeed get the sense that the rich and powerful of Sigil frequent this place. Hulking twelve foot tall demonic lords wearing fine suits of silk and otherwise showing their demon forms openly stride through the place, with angelic girls and boys at their sides. Tall strange looking Dabus that float through the air seem to take rest in their private booths, their symbols sputtering above their heads as they converse. A herculean warrior with a bare chest, full of muscle, and wearing soft flowing pants is surrounded by a gaggle of women. Older human men in fine suits sit sipping their drinks. Another wizard sits calmly, with small flying pixies around him, fawning over him.  Meepo sees many lost things as he watches. The floor is littered with random detritus, or...sometimes, people carelessly leave things on the chair next to them only to have them lost.  He gathers a small purple crystal shard, a signet ring, a key carved of some red transparent stone, a metal hair clip, a small wooden carving of a goat, an worn leather eyepatch with a white crystal on the front, 1 platinum, 5 gold, 10 silver, and 23 copper coins, all with a myriad of stamps and faces on them, likely from worlds all around the multiverse.

Ulthan, Etain says, "Yeah yeah, the laws apply down there. There's catacombs down there too, could be dangerous....but...i suppose if that guy said hunting can be there, maybe he was refering to all the brain rats....the certainly are open season on 'em."

Lionel, rather than led to a room, Mordenkainen gets to the back hall and opens a doorway to a luxurious mansion in the middle of the air. He ushers Lionel through where servants greet them both. He leads you into a back room which is clearly a workshop, with a large flat table and motions for you to sit, while pulling all manner of gear from his bag.  "Sleep now..." he says, touching your forehead. You pass out. 

Everyone else retires to their rooms eventually.  The rooms are very fine, the pillows and beds amazingly soft.....and little chocolates are lain on each pillow, evening tea is set out in the room on fine ceramic pottery, and the beds have been turned down. Feeling at ease, you quickly pass out.  In Ulthan's room, his new pet, leaps up onto his bed and begins kneading the bed with it's claws until finally settling down in the center, claiming it as its own. 

[next morning post to come]

Lionel cracks open his eyes. Glowing crystals decorate the wall of the magical dimensional mansion that Mordenkainen calls home. They shine with a bit of a glare through Lionel's blurry eyes. He reaches up a hand to rub his eyes clear and sees....not a dwarf hand.  A long slender hand....but...though his memory is a bit foggy....it's....not HIS hand either. With a shock he sits up. He's wearing a simple grey smock....his smooth white skin and slender body is NOT his own, and he looks down at it with a shock. Long straight silver hair falls around his face as he looks about his body in a bit of a panic.  As he does so, his mind slips back to the dwarf body....remembering what it was to be a dwarf....and....his white pale flesh shimmers in a wave, and briefly the image of that dwarf body seems to sail along the ripple through his body.  He clambers off the bed...looking around the wizards workshop....and sees a full size mirror on the corner. He moves to it with a shock...and sees....a strange...featureless white fleshed face looking back at him. His eyes, white orbs stare back at him.  He momentarily remembers what he used to look like, and another ripple runs through his body, a distant memory stirred as the ripple along his body carries the image of his old self along with it, but leaving only the pale white flesh behind.  Then...as he looks, a more permanent ripple runs down his face....leaving the top half of his head looking exactly like his old self....long curly blonde hair....but the rest of him still pale and white. He glances at a hand...and it turns into his old selfs hand.....at the end of a white fleshed arm. 

The mad wizard walks into the room, "Oh....hi...there you are.  Awake finally. Getting used to things I see?" 

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The morning finds Meepo, Mordekai, Ketch, Ulthan and Ulthan's cat sitting at a table for breakfast in amongst a busy dining room. The people have changed, but....you feel like this place has been busy since you left....with little drop in people or business taking place.  Seems like it may be one of the "all day and night" type places. Lionel and Mordekai are yet to return. Small rolls and bread products as well as some sort of juice are brought to the table by a Tiefling server. His short black hair shows off his long curved back horns as he serves some hot tea or coffee as well.  This breakfast seems complimentary.  You spot Etain. He's sitting in a small side room near the main door....chewing on a piece of toast while chatting with what look like some other touts, though...they look a tad better fed and wardrobed than your guide. Nonetheless they seem to be having a lively conversation with much smiling, as he spots you all and waves, before returning to his conversation. 

A rather robust lizard man in a very fine black suit and tie walks up to the table. His tongue darts out of his mouth reflexively.  "Sssso, I ssssee you here lassst night. Now again thisss morning. You are new here, yesss? I am Yaddle." He nods his head towards you all, though he seems generally to be addressing Mordekai, giving Ulthan and Ketch appraising glances, and barely noting the Kobold.  "You look like capable folksssss. What isssss your busssinesss here? What ssssort of work do you do?"

Mordekai smiles a charming smile, but is a little reluctant to divulge anything straight away to a total stranger. He speaks in a genuinely warm, friendly tone:

"Greetings, Yaddle. We are indeed new, and trying to get the bearings of this place, so to speak. As such, I don't mean to be rude, we are certainly open to making new acquaintances, but it would certainly be of more use to know what kind of work you do yourself before we give you your answers. In truth, we don't really have any outstanding business, we're more just passing through this fascinating place, so I imagine your own answers to those questions would be far more exciting and interesting than our own, friend."

There is a special word in every language for those who blindly walk into wizards "workshops" (let's call it like this), trusting to get their wish fulfilled and obediently following commands of that wizards. Lionel personally knew more than a couple variations of this word and after repeating them all to his reflection, thought that it's time to learn a few more - he sure needed it.

Before turning to wizard, Lionel tried to take a deep breath and count to ten (it never worked but the alternative was smashing the mirrors and everything he could reach). "Can not say I do," he did his best to make the voice sound even and calm (provided, of course, he did have a voice to use). "What is this body? What kind of a monster did you turn me into?" (There were few that he heard about and neither of them were something pleasant)

Mordenkainen raises an eyebrow, "Well now, I would say monsters are born in the heart and soul, not in some physical form." He taps his chest and in, what is likely an accidental, but nonetheless condescending way, "And I think you've the heart of a hero. Uh, see, the thing is...I may have been a little....off my rocker when I performed a ritual to bring all those souls together in that dwarf body, which was...by the way, the only body I had handy. And....I have to admit, I don't really remember which...." he waves his hand lazily "...one you were. But...I had a solution, which I think you'll agree solves the problem nicely."  He opens both hands and moves them up and down, as if to show off your milky white skinned amorphous body.  Then, with a voice that betrays the confidence of how well he thinks his gift is landing, he says, "Ta da."  He smiles, and almost looks apologetic, "This body you're in, it's a race you probably don't know. But, like I said, it's really what's inside that counts, wouldn't you agree?  So....this is what's known as a changeling. They come from another place than you're used to, but...really...when you extrapolate everything out to infinite, pretty much all of reality is outside a place you're used to.  Am I right, or am I right?"  He laughs and smiles....though quickly stifles it seeing a leveled glare from Lionel. "So, a changeling, can, ahem....really change into any sort of creature you wish.  Tall, short, dwarf, elf. It's not an illusion, its an actual change. But..****y normal bi-pedal sorta creatures. You can't change into anything like a dog or a statue...you're not one of those evil dopplegangers.  A changeling is sorta like a half-doppleganger...but....they're more like real people, you know..."  He takes a deep breath, seeing none of this appears to be landing well. 

"So, since I didn't know who you looked like before, or even what you were, I opted for complete flexibility.  Now you can be ANYONE you want to be. Really, I think, you should be thanking me for such a generous boon.  You thought you were getting one body, and you now have ALL the bodies!  Great right?"  He stares, holding a smile with gritted teeth at Lionel.

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Yaddle smiles to Mordekai, "Ahhh, yesssss, visssitorsss, well, i think you'll sssoon find nothing quite comparessss to Sssssigil. You'll ssssshow up back home, look around, and think....'how pedestrian'...but, enjoy your time none-the-lesssssss.  Mysssself, I am a business man, a ssssort of troubleshooter type. Ssssome ssssay jack-of-all-tradessss, ssssome cutterssss ssssay 'Fixer'. I sssorta connect people with problemssss...with people who sssolve problemsss. Now, depending on the day, and the berksss ssskillssssss, they may find themselves on either ssside of that equation on any given day. I do happen to be looking for ssssome brave folk to ssssolve a clientsss problem, little ssshort ssstaffed at the moment, my lassst crew wassss sssso sssuccessful it ssseemss they don't have time for me anymore. Anyway, no pressssssure, but if have the right ssskillsss, or if you have a particular problem need ssssolving, come no further than Yaddle." 

"I see. Well, we do have a lot of skills between us. We could probably solve your client's problem, although I couldn't guarantee that without knowing what the problem is, and also what the payment would be."

Lionel was still able to speak evenly and did not make yet any aggressive move, though his cold stare was pretty much the right temperature to begin the process of freezing hells. "Where did you get that body and what have you done with the body of dwarf?"

Mordenkainen makes a very guilty face and his eyes dart to one side, then he puffs out his chest and reestablishes eye contact, "I believe our deal is done here. I do not answer to you sir dwarf, or....i guess .....what was your name again? Lion something? This way to the exit then. Or you can refuse to leave and be cast into an inter-dimensional rift when my mansion goes away. Your choice." 

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Yaddle, "Well, jussst a bit of a job. Gotta go ressscue a lad who'ssss off in a town. But, sssshouldn't be too tough, the localssss are all very pliant, and the lad will be happy to be resssscued. And...the client is willing to pay 5000 gold upon delivery. Mussssst be alive though. If you're interesssted, I can arrange a meeting....let me know, discusssss amongssst yourssselvesss..  I will be at my booth." 

He wanders off and sits down. You notice other eyes in the place often shift across the group of you. 

Where is Lionel's armor and weapons?

Lionel sees all his equipment sitting in a pile under a table nearby.  The dwarf sized gear will require adjusting before you can put it on...unless....you change your body to look like a dwarf, in which case it'll fit just fine.