Pizazz's Ravenloft and Beyond

     "Has floating eyes guy been seen since he arrived?  Or does it seem he is secluded with Quill?" Ketch asks, wondering what such a creature would be doing here.  How it would have even have gotten within the book.

     "I think our employers have not told us everything," Ketch says, quietly.

"Truly, this is a magnificent coincidence! If it is who I suspect, the two of them together would be a wondrous sight to behold. Did the gentleman give his name?" Mordekai feigns almost giddy excitement. "Oh, we simply must meet with these heroes now that we know they are together! Where did they go? To his house? Presumably such a fabled hero lives in the grand Manor here?"

She nods, "Indeed, Quill lives in the manor, and...though his guest is sometimes seen floating around outside, he is also often inside the manor. But, if you wish to see them, there is a grand party tonight, and many of the villagers are invited. You might be able to get invited as a plus 1...or...plus 5...if you ask around." She smiles in a friendly manner. 

Ulthan wanders into the Inn with his cat. 

"It seems we better make friends with locals". Lionel remembered the creepy peasants and shuddered, but the alternative was the party crashing, and he was not sure it was the best start for the "saving Quill" campaign. So he continued to smile to Daphne. "Would you be so kind to help us get in there? Or may be point to the villagers who would not mind to share their invitations?"

"Well...me and my husband could take two of you with us. You seem like lovely folk. Maybe...try Joseph and Henrietta at the Silks and Soles store for a couple more!"

((Well we only really need one invitation...  Whoever goes in could then open the portable hole and let the rest of us out?  But invitations may be better.  Just who has the dagger anyway? Ulthan?))

If Ulthan had the dagger, he would have given it to Mordekai before going hunting. Ulthan nods "hrmpfh Ulthan look invite hrmpfh" and he stands up and goes to the market seeing if people like the cat, maybe get invite like that. "hrmpfh me cat invite tonight party hrmpfh".

((Always for utilizing sneaking in with the BoH strategy! Though agree, we can at least try to go legit at first))

"You are the most generous," continued to smile Lionel. "Then some of us will try their luck with Joseph and Henrietta. Which time did you say everyone is going to the manor?" He thanked Daphne and took others aside. "So, anyone is up to go and talk to others? Might be better if we do it as officially as possible with that eye-monster around. And our giant friend got a great idea - we can be here to show his cat. An attraction for most of the guests, I am sure."

After the food was served (they did try to order food, right?) and carefully tasted (better to be prepared for the feast ahead) Lionel would check out that "Silks and Soles" with anyone willing to join.

Ulthan walks back out into the pouring rain and to the market. People are continuing at the market as if it were not a deluge.  He approaches a human man with grey hair who looks like a farmer. The man smiles, "I've carrots and peas today. Plenty for all. I'd be happy to take you with me to the party. But mostly the carrots are the best I'd say!"  Water runs down the mans face from the rain and he blinks awkwardly to clear his vision. 

The food at the Inn is......delicious actually. The food here all seems legit, and is prepared with...well, so many unique flavors that you figure magic must be part of it.  The wine seems plentiful as well, and has lovely flavor. 

By the time you're done your meal, it's no longer raining out. In fact....it appears to be cloudless and sunny once more. Lionel makes his way to the clothing store, full of beautiful clothes and shoes....though quite a few are covered in a lot of dust and haven't been touched in a while. A human male, middle aged comes up, "Welcome to Silks and Soles, the finest clothing and shoes within ten miles. In fact, the only ones!"  He laughs and winks. "Someone from out of town I see. Very shiny."  He pokes Lionel's chest plate. "This is my partner, Henriette."  A tiefling with dark blue skin, two horns, and a long tail dragging behind them approaches. It's unclear if it's a boy or a girl. When Henriette speaks its not clear either, "Welcome, it is nice to see more visitors to our lovely town. I can fit you for boots or shoes, whatever the occasion requires!"

     Ketch will inquire just what kind of guards are at the party.  "Is there even someone checking invitations?"  he asks. "We're all of a mind that this is a normal type of event but we may need to adjust our thinking a bit."

"Most likely you are right," nodded Lionel, "and nobody would actually check the lists or invitations. And yet, that unexpected "gentlemen with eyes" can cause any kind of complications." Lionel would not be able to explain what exactly he suspects and cautious about but felt like it might be important to follow the ... main plot?

As in the tavern he did not express any surprise at the shop's interior and the behavior of the "people" around. The feeling of a being a bystander suddenly pushed onto the stage without knowing anything about the play was steadily growing, but he did his best to keep up with the script. "Truly nice to meet you." He smiled to Henriette, "The "occasion" is exactly the reason I am here. Though I hoped my own attire would be enough. I heard there is grand party tonight. Unfortunately, me and my companions were not in the town at the time and we missed our invitations. Daphne mentioned you might help two of us to get there as yours - and your lovely partners - "plus one". Was she right?"

Ulthan goes back after a few minutes to the group "hrmpfh magic takes back to town no escape forest hrmpfh" then goes back out trying to see if he can score tickets by engaging people poorly "hrmpfh ticket invite please hrmpfh". He'll also walk by the manor about 100 feet out to get a good look of it and see ways in/out. He'll also climb some rooftop which looks like will have some hidden edge from the manor so he's not an obvious guy on roof if looking from manor.

(Meepo gave the dagger to Mordekai once he identified it.)

(Oh, right.  Mordekai will keep it secret and safe, and pass it to Ulthan once he's finished his scouting and hunting.)

Ulthan, as mentioned in previous post, a farmer was happy to sell you carrots, and also offer you to be his +1 to the party.  Ulthan wanders over and finds a roof to slip up onto. The manor has one side door on the west side of the building, and double doors at the front. Otherwise, it has windows all around both the 1st and 2nd floor. The windows all seem to be able to slide open, assuming they're not locked from the inside. Curtains hang from most windows, blocking many views. He sees the occasional movement of someone walking by, but he doesn't get a great view. It looks like he sees both a manservant type person, as well as people in full plate armor walking around inside.  

Henriette flicks their tail, seemingly in pleasure, "It would be our pleasure to bring you and a friend as our +1's. As this is the first time a party has ever been thrown in the manor, I am not sure how it will go or if they will check tickets. I'm sure it will be wonderful. Especially with the right footwear. Would you like to see our fine selection of leather slip ons or raised heel half-rise boots, they come in brown or black. Please return at dusk and we will go from here." 

It would seem the group has been able to drum up enough invitations for themselves for the evening.  It seems like you have a couple hours to burn before dusk. 

Heh, I was looking for more tickets for the group. Nonetheless since after checking with them it seems like all are good to go, I'll work on making my furs and hide as presentable as possible. Basically although wearing the breastplate, it has a hide tabard, and fluffs of fur still outline the edges wherever I could do it. Not exactly high fashion, but best could be done at this time by a dexterous essentially barbarian. Head back to group "hrmpfh armored guards inside servants hrmpfh". He seems to ponder some more. "hrmpfh party first time all invited hrmpfh" seems to ponder for a few seconds "hrmpfh feels ambush hrmpfh" then ponders some more "hrmpfh look like them hrmpfh" he says while looking at the guy who talked about illusions, not the kobold, not the glowy one, not the half-orc.

     "Town seems small.  Type where everyone knows everyone.  I suspect even with illusions we would obviously be outsiders unless we tied up people and tried to replace them...  I suggest we go in all friendly like, just as we are. The truth, that we're a band of adventurers passing through and happy to partake of a high brow fancy todo for a change," Ketch suggests mildly.  "And if an ambush, well at least we're already prepped for trouble?"

     Ketch thinks it's too late to hide who they are now but if it's the parties decision he will go along with it.  In the meantime, he will follow Ulthan's lead and gussy himself up as much as he can.  Scrub as much dirt off his armor that he can, comb his fingers through his hair to tame it down a bit and shake out his cloak as best he can.

Mordekai listens to Ulthan, and broadens the conversation to the wider party.  "Ulthan may be right.  I can disguise us all right now and take a quick break to recover from the exertion before the party starts.  We'd still be disguised and I'd still be at full strength.  But if we're invited as the townfolk's +1s, we'd still need to wear our own faces, or they wouldn't recognise us to take us in with them.  However, I can easily disguise just our clothing if we want?  Perhaps make us look as though we're dressed like the rest of the commoners?  Or other uniforms?  If we're invited guests, then guard or servant uniforms would draw suspicion, but perhaps we don't want our armour to be quite so shiny, for example?"  Mordekai tries not to stare at Lionel's armour at this last point.  "Or do we just go in as we are?"

"Most generous of you." Lionel made his best effort to look with the straight face at the impressive selection of leather slip-ons and raised heel half-rise boots and politely declined the offer. "Great collection, but my companions and I would feel more comfortable in the attire we are wearing. Do hope Mr. Quill would not mind." He ceremoniously slightly bowed his head "Me and my companions will see you at dusk."

He was not sure what to do with the times left and simply joined the rest of the group in the Inn. "That thing - with many eyes. If this is what I think it is, it might be able to see through the disguise. In this case we will reveal ourselves faster than if we go in fully armed. I would probably stick with what we are." Being newly re-born and freshly dressed he did not need to do anything special about his look to be presentable. So, a couple of hours until dusk he would prefer to spend slowly sipping good wine and enjoying a peaceful evening, something, he felt, that would not last long.

Anyone do anything in particular for the next couple hours?  Lionel sits in the bar and sips a wine, and seems to just kick back and enjoy himself.