DRAGON HEIST - CHAPTER TWO

Four stories tall and boasting balconies, a turret, and five chimneys, this abandoned building is one of the grandest in Trollskull Alley. Potentially, you all can refurnish, rebuild, rename, and otherwise personalize your new stronghold to your hearts’ content. When you first arrive, the tavern’s taproom is filled with broken furniture, tarnished silverware, casks of wine that have turned to vinegar, and worthless detritus. The tavern’s other rooms are all empty, except for cobwebs, dust, and harmless rats.

I have uploaded the map into Discord. There is no catch. Volo is so greatful to see Floon back, and Neverember safe, he has given you the deed to the vacant manor.

Go ahead an RP among yourselves. What rooms do you take? What do you want to do with the manor? Do you start cleaning up? How? Talk about your plans and how you wish to use the manor. Will it become a business, or just a place to rest? How do you feel about all of this? The manor is all yours to do with what you please. You can even download the map I posted in Discord and mark it up, showing everyone where your room is, for example.

Outside, your neighbors include the businesses called: The Bent Nail, Steam and Steel, Corellon's Crown, Tiger's Eye, and Book Wyrm's Treasure. Maybe you want to go meet your neighbors?

.Avys gazes over each inch of the house, testing stairs and assessing the various uses for the rooms. He comes to the library and places the spell book they acquired from the orc on one of the shelves (are there books in there already?) along with the paper bird that he found in the warehouse. He will find the group after checking out all of the rooms and share his thoughts. "I request the bedroom next to the library as well as full creative control on what to do with that space. The bedroom is less important though it does give me easy access to what I will create into my work space. Since this place is already a tavern by design we can renovate it and make some income while also gathering information from potential patrons. I don't think that should be the only use for the space and I propose.." he pauses briefly as he musters some extra courage and hopefully finesse with the next part of the plan. "We also appraise, buy and sell valuable/magical items upstairs in the common area (2nd floor), it'll be an exclusive service we offer to higher paying customers. If  we can foster positive relations with the other shops on this strip, we can share business and help each other out. Does this sound agreeable? If so has anyone worked in a business before?"  he lets out a big sigh, tired of the talking as he somewhat nervously glances at the others, bracing for approval or debate

"Uh huh." Kasha heard the words of Avys, but wasn't paying attention at all. She looked around with a childlike wonder. "Hm." she said after a moment. "This place needs some woik." she nodded. 

She went up to the second floor, and then the third, finding the room she wanted. She thought to herself, "Ooh! I like this room! Who wants to share?!?!" she screamed from two floors up. "It has a bathroom!!!"

Feliara followed his good friend Avys all along his inspection. Remaining silent and trying not to disturb him, she peeked every now and then from behind his shoulder to see what caught his attention. The house was amazing, at least the size of it, and after some cleaning it would make an amazing tavern. After Avys was done and spoke about opening a tavern, she replied:

"It'd be great if we had a source of income to keep repairing this house. I could take care of serving the clients or cooking, doing some performances late at night and making dumb people fall in love... Nah, no, I'm not that evil."

She then turned around and looked for a room near his. Kasha already claimed the one on that floor but her offering to share it was the key of her needs. The kid was nice, funny and really loved nature, she'd make an amazing roommate. Being an elf also meant that she didn't need to sleep, so even if she snored that wouldn't be a huge problem.

"Hey, Kasha, wanna share it with me? Girls together til'the end, right?"

"Hey, Kasha, wanna share it with me? Girls together til'the end, right?"
"Ok!" she called back, looking over the empty room. "Right!" she agreed. And then thought about her other team. The Misfits. Her smile faded just a bit.

Girls together till the end. She sighed. Feliara's words made her think of a concept she felt "here", but not back "there". In fact, she didn't feel like the Misfits were all "together". Yeah, they worked together. But deep down, she felt like it was her and him for themselves, and her for herself, and the new person for, maybe, him and the living soup. Even their leader - she rarely could even get a reading from her at all, and spoke in words she didn't sometimes understand. Sure. Probably doing that on purpose because I'm dumb and can't read. They liked having Kasha around, of course, and each of them had expressed love for her - but a sisterly or brotherly love. How valuable was she? Her mind spun and turned, thinking about things that never mattered to her before, but with her father dead and her mother trying to recruit her for some cosmic purpose, and that stunt the cat pulled, those feelings and emotions of doubt, loneliness, and..something else..were forefront.

But what was that "something else"? She wanted to go back to them, but then had the notion that they all probably think she's just a big dumb dinosaur. Now her smile was completely gone, and her eyes watered. She came to a revelation. She was jealous. Yes! At first, she didn't recognize it, because Kasha had never ever been jealous of anything. She only knew kindness, and happiness. But she was changing. She was jealous of the love. Jealous of the skills. Jealous of how everyone was better at anything and everything. They could cook, and read, and spell, and fall in love and Kasha could do none of those things. She had stupid crayons and coloring books because she wasn't smart. They even had parents and social skills and kisses and hugs and now truly believed no one understood her.

"We're gonna need furniture and stuff." she declared, distracting her mind to think about anything else than what she was thinking of right now.

"Yeah, you're right Kasha! Do y'all think that with what we earned we could start the tavern? From there it's just waiting for the income"

Slowly, she went over the stairs and looked down. Finally a home, or better said, again. The feeling of having a place to call home brought her some memories of her long gone beloved one. Rapidly, she shook her head before turning to the others and with a great smile, proposing something to do.

"Who wants to start planning how our tavern will look like? Oh... And we gotta think about a name!"

"Yeah, you're right Kasha! Do y'all think that with what we earned we could start the tavern? From there it's just waiting for the income"
Kasha's smile brightened. "Maybe! But we should start cleaning this place up. Let's see what the others think!"

She took Feliara by the arm and pulled her downstairs to the main group in the taproom. "We need to discuss what we're going to do!" she said, in her most supervisory voice, when clearly she was not a supervisor.

Eventually calming down after Volo and the group expressed the value of owning property and not immediately selling the place for dragons, Bruvir grabbed all of his items and made his way towards his new "home".  Looking up at the large but rather rundown building, Bruvir could help but feel a wave of emotions inside of him.  On the one hand, property meant nothing to him.  He was a Storm Giant.  He did not buy and sell property or land, he simply lived it till he felt like living somewhere else.  A mountain peak, a sea floor, a wide open plain.  These were his true homes, anything else just didn't cut it; cities especially.  On the other hand though, owning something as "valuable" as this was a step in the right direction for his goals.  He needed money or a miracle to reverse his situation and seek revenge against that blasted sorceress; and staying with this group - eccentric as they were - seemed to be his best chance at finding either for the time being.

Entering the Manor, he walked through the abandoned building, grumbling to himself as he noted its condition.  Of course the man would "gift" them a place that was little more than a rain shelter in its current condition; though he had to admit that there was certainly a bit of potential in the building's walls.  When he reached the attic - annoying as it was to climb all those storming stairs, he knew this was the place he would call his own.  Besides being the most private and secure area of the Manor, it's high ceilings would allow Bruvir to practice some of his experiments he hadn't been able to try since his move to Waterdeep.  The witch may have stolen his size, strength, powers and dignity, but she couldn't take his knowledge.  Pulling out his two hammers, he looked at the swirling runes on each of them, ancient Giant magic long inert and mostly forgotten.  Though it had been centuries, he remembered stories during his youth of proud warriors mastering each rune, gaining an aspect of each Giant race and using powers once thought exclusive to the All-Father or his direct heirs.  I will figure out how to activate these powers, he told himself as he made his way back downstairs to join his new roommates, And when I do witch, not even the All-Father himself will be able to stop me from getting back what's mine!   

 The group was reconvened on the bottom level, Bruvir spoke up and said, "I will take the upper most room, though the floors will need to be reinforced." he began not explaining the reason for his strange request.  "As for what we do with the place, it matters not to me, but, I doubt we will be able to match the Yawning Portal in popularity if that is what everyone's intention is."   

"Oh, hail no." Kasha said. "That's fo' sho'." She then picks up a broom and starts sweeping, and picking up trash. "Maybe later today we can meet one of the neighbors??" she asks, excited. "And uh. Go to the candy store? For. Things."

Naumick looks at the brooms and cleaning materials and frowns. With a burst of unexpected energy, he begins cleaning like a madman. 
“A dirty house is an unwelcoming site,” he grumbles. “Cleanliness is a sign of respect.”

"Good job!" Kasha praises. "Thanks, Nom nom!"

As the day progressed, word began to spread throughout Waterdeep that a group of adventurers (that's us!) helped Volothamp Geddarm and rescued Renaer Neverember. Faction representatives begin to approach our manor and left leaflets for us in the attempts to try and recruit us. 

THE EMERALD ENCLAVE
The Emerald Enclave would be interested in recruiting anyone who seeks to preserve the balance within Waterdeep (particularly clerics of nature, druids, and rangers). The message was delivered by a white cat that spoke the following message in a melodious male voice: “Interested in joining the Emerald Enclave? Come meet us at Phaulkonmere in the Southern Ward.”

THE HARPERS
An old organization that has risen, been shattered, and risen again several times. Its longevity and resilience are largely due to its decentralized, grassroots, secretive nature, and the near-autonomy of many of its members. The leaflet said, “Renaer tells us you are a good bet. He bought you tickets to the opera tonight at the Lightsinger Theater in the Sea Ward. If you are interested, meet Mirt at intermission. Private Box C. Formal attire is required for admittance.”

THE LORDS ALLIANCE
A coalition of rulers from cities across Faerûn, who collectively agree that some solidarity is needed to keep evil at bay. The rulers of Waterdeep, Silverymoon, Neverwinter, and other free cities in the region dominate the Alliance. Those who place the security of the city and the realm ahead of their own interests are invited to join this faction. Potential recruits must be residents of Waterdeep. We received an invitation to speak to Jalester Silvermane, a field agent who reports to Open Lord Laeral Silverhand. Jalester spends much of his time in the Yawning Portal and other taverns that adventurers are known to frequent.

THE ORDER OF THE GAUNTLET
Many paladins and clerics of Tyr, Helm, Torm, and Hoar have joined this new organization, seeing it as—finally—a way of making common cause against the evils abroad in the world. We received an invitiation to speak to Savra Belabranta if anyone was interested at the Hall of Justice.

THE ZHENTS
The Zhentarim seeks to become omnipresent and inescapable, more wealthy and powerful, and most importantly, untouchable. Everyone should fear to cross them. A flying snake with a parchment tied about its body visited us in the afternoon, dropping off a message. “Want to be part of something big? Speak to Davil Starsong at the Yawning Portal.”

Using her magic skills day after day, Feliara cleaned each one of the rooms that would accommodate one of her friends. With the help of unseen servant and mage hand she spent a few days taking care of that mansion. Surely it was a hard job, and not a really clean one, but the dream of having a tavern where she could work fueled the elf day after day.

The requests of some guilds surely looked interesting, and discarding rapidly most of them she ended up pondering whether she should join the Harpists or the Emerald Enclave. She remembered vaguely one of her old husband's friend, a black Dragonborn female who was part of them. Only seeing her twice, she left a great impression though they didn't spend too much time together. Their ideals, which she briefly explained, didn't seem what she would follow. They were too... Civilized. They focused too much on the people and ignored everything outside of their cities.

The dogmas of the Emerald Enclave, who she barely knew, seemed more suited for her. Even though most of them were druids and rangers, being an Eladrin made her feel way closer to nature than most of the other races. She was born in it and she would defend it until the end. She'd check them up, maybe Kasha was also interested in joining.

Kasha, while helping to organize and clean, curiously paid attention when they had faction "visitors". Sure, she understood what the white talking cat was saying from the Enclave, but anything on paper, well..

..she approached Feliara. She was very red in the cheeks. It was very dusty in the manor, and she sneezed a few times. It wasn't a typical ah choo sneeze, it was more of a sharp inhale of breath, and then a loud PFFTH, like giving someone a raspberry on their skin. She did this twice, her eyes crossed comically as she did. She then sniffed.

"Feli, I uh..?" she began, looking away. She showed her the notes from the Factions. "I can't read very well. What do these say?" her voice was a very timid whimper.

Avys will also help with organizing the mansion as best as possible. Upon hearing Bruvir's comments, he looks over and responds "I don't disagree that we would not be able to become more popular than the Yawning Portal, perhaps we can change from a tavern once we have the funds for a complete remodeling, but income is income and now we have a base of operations. If we can gain some favor with the local businesses, a solid shared customer base could start to form. Why doesn't someone go introduce the group to them?" he looks around seeing if anyone would consider doing so. He was very particular at the very least and would cast mending  along with his own tools to repair any furniture and fixtures that had enough left to make functional once again. You notice after a short break he comes back with a small humanoid construction floating at his side, it begins to assist with some of the more basic tasks and follows Avys around quite closely. "Ahem Iago, please pass me..."  he starts to mutter and communicate with the homunculus, it doesn't respond with any more than gestures. 

As the invitations come around, Avys will think about each of them and see what the group thinks. Surely the Lords Alliance and the Harpers can suit the needs of the group, Order in Waterdeep can make for a more stable marketplace and if it does some good, he would find that agreeable to say the least.

Over the next few days, Bruvir assisted the others in cleaning up the manor, moving and throw out no longer needed items unceremoniously out the windows and onto the adjacent street.  He also bugged the blue man, who over this time period he learned was called Avys, and received some aid in fixing and adjusting the attic space to better suit his needs; if his experimentation worked as he hoped, then he'd for sure need the floor, walls and roof to be more secure lest he fall through to the level below or punch a hole in the buildings exterior by mistake.

When the invitations from the various factions came in, he wasn't particularly drawn to any of them.  Of the five that came in, only two seemed to have any chance of proving useful to the cursed giant.  The Zhents, slippery as they were, were most likely his best chance to make money fast though he knew he'd most likely come resent the group and all the restrictions and rules they'd attempt to place upon him.  The other group of "note" was the Order of the Gauntlet.  Though he wasn't nearly as sanctimonious as they were, perhaps they'd be interested in killing an evil sorceress in return for his membership.  He'd ponder on it some more but he suspected he'd at least speak to each of their representatives and see what they had to say.

Quote from Aelas >>

Avys will also help with organizing the mansion as best as possible. Upon hearing Bruvir's comments, he looks over and responds "I don't disagree that we would not be able to become more popular than the Yawning Portal, perhaps we can change from a tavern once we have the funds for a complete remodeling, but income is income and now we have a base of operations. If we can gain some favor with the local businesses, a solid shared customer base could start to form. Why doesn't someone go introduce the group to them?" he looks around seeing if anyone would consider doing so. 

"I will go." Bruvir commented to the inventor before picking up his hammer -taking only the smaller one with him now that he actually had a "secure" place to leave it - and headed out the door to the establishment nearest to the manor.

(Anyone is free to tag along.  He just wasn't going to wait xp)

NEIGHBORS
The Bent Nail - Appears to be a shop for all things made of wood.
Steam and Steel - Blacksmith.
Corellon's Crown - Appears to be an herbalism store.
Tiger's Eye - Detectives.
Book Wyrm's Treasure - bookstore.

If you wish to explore one of the stores on your street, introduce yourself, or anything else, pick a location and I will elaborate.

While Kasha was cleaning that day, she heard dishes breaking and made her head pop up from the floor like a squirrel sensing danger. "Hello? Nom nom? Feli? B-B-bruvir?" She creeped into the kitchen. Nothing was there. Written in the dust on one of the counters was "Closing time!" but Kasha couldn't read well at all, so, instead, said, "Guys!!"

Naumick comes to find Kasha, looking at the message and then to the others. "Duergar?" he grumbles. "Or this place is haunted." He shrugs and begins cleaning the counter. "If haunted, I'd hope for a cleaner ghost or, at the least, one who could bartend."

Once things seem to be mostly in order, he would see that Bruvir would be heading to go and meet the neighbors, pleasantly surprised based on the individuals perceived demeanor, he will grab the spell book out of the library and return downstairs before stating "I'll accompany you, perhaps the Book Wrym's Treasure or Tiger's eye could be a good first stop? Do you have a preference on where you would like to check out first?"

He places Iago into his side bag, mechanical head poking out from time to time and will wait by the door for Bruvir.

Quote from Aelas >>

Once things seem to be mostly in order, he would see that Bruvir would be heading to go and meet the neighbors, pleasantly surprised based on the individuals perceived demeanor, he will grab the spell book out of the library and return downstairs before stating "I'll accompany you, perhaps the Book Wrym's Treasure or Tiger's eye could be a good first stop? Do you have a preference on where you would like to check out first?"

He places Iago into his side bag, mechanical head poking out from time to time and will wait by the door for Bruvir.

"Doesn't matter to me.  Plan on going to all of them anyway before taking another trip back to the Portal.  Just want to see what's around and what kind of business would work best."  Bruvir grunted out as he walked past Avys and out the door.