>> The cleaning crew will probably just dump the ale and wine that has 'gone bad.  We can contact our alcohol rep and see if they will buy back empties... or just do a trade for new product.  (( just read how a barrel can only be used 3 - 4 times before it no longer imparts 'flavor' to the wine... so... depends?)  <<

Damros returns and lets everyone know about his visit with the City Watch and that he let the CW know the group might be interested in 'other odd jobs' that might help the Watch in the future.  (( never hurts to get some gold stars from the watch ))

Once done, he will prowl about the place - from basement to top floor and the turrent.   ? Are there any books in decent shape in the library / study?   Is this where Volo was doing his book research and compilation for his next volume?

Passive Perception: 14

Sehaethas joins in the initial inspection of the house. Then Kylaski decides that she likes the idea of having actual silver silverware, so she takes over and heads for the bottom floor. There she starts removing the tarnish from the silverware one piece at a time using prestidigitation. 

(How many sets of silverware can be recovered? She's not actually claiming these, so these would be for the group)

Then Sehaethas brings up a question, "How do we allocate the bedrooms? It looks like there's four rooms intended to be bedrooms, including the one can only be reached through the den the one that's in the attic. There's also a small spare room on the second floor and the library and study on the second floor that could be made into bedrooms. Do we each have our own room, or do we double up?"

Skye sighs and sits, back in the main room. There is a lot to do. A lot. But it’s a home, it’s hers. It an opportunity for business. For moving past her grudge against the Zhent. For moving against her longing to find out more against her father, to hide from her mother. 

Perhaps, perhaps this is a sign that to seek adventure to seek power and to seek revenge is foolish. She should set down roots. She should be still like the earth. Pliable like the ocean. Consumptive like fire. 

The ring and bracelet on her finger tingles, then crackles. Fresh air seems to flow from it before it sparks and tendrils of lightning spark between each finger, the gust blowing her hair back and ripping against her skin, kicking up dust from the bar and across the floor. 

Her heart hammers in her chest and then she moves her hand, each ring manipulating her fingers into gestures without her consciously meaning too. A Witch Bolt thunders into the middle of the room, taking on the form of a cloaked figure, bowing, clothes made of coruscating static and crackling light, a illusionary Silent Image before becoming an invisible sense of a presence, an Unseen Servant.

Then it all fades. The sense of a stronger elemental energy in her hand persisting. Was that encouragement, or chastisement. Her thoughts turn to turmoil. What was she to make of this? 

There are some books in the library. Nothing that looks like Volo's. It's like he brought the place but hadn't had any time to actually spend it here.

You can recover 16 complete sets of silverwear

Following your own searches, while the place is being cleaned, you decide to go and see what else is around your new abode (see campaign notes for the main shops around). As you return, you see a human knight stood by the door. She glances at her shadow's position (closest thing to a watch she has) and then you see her knock (again, by the looks of it). 

Xaul explores the nearby shops but none of them strike a chord with him at the moment. The forge and carpenters in particular look like they might prove useful later when the party properly gets to work fixing up the Manor, but for now he doesn't require any services from them. He returns back to the Manor and finds the knight stood by the door, as if she's waiting for somebody to answer. He walks up, holding out a large hand, and says 'Hello there. If you're looking for the residents of this property, I am one of them. The rest of my associates are also out, but might be returning shortly too. My name is Xaul Lackluster, may I get the pleasure of learning who you might be?' He expects this person probably has a fair reason to be here considering they've been waiting outside what was only a recently abandoned building, expecting occupants, so looks forward to learning who they actually are.

Sehaethas will pick up a bedroll and a blanket so he has something to sleep on tonight. He's not much for camping out, so he doesn't already have one.

Approaching the knight at the door, he'll ask, "Are you looking for someone?"  It's obvious that the knight is looking for someone, but this seems more polite than a "Who are you looking for." would be.

OOC: Missed Xaul's post just before mine. His is better, so I'm retracting mine.

After shopping, Sehaethas comes back to find Xaul talking to a night.

Skye has been scoping out the shops of the alley and surrounding ward too. She returns with a flagon of ale almost drunk in hand -- 'checking out the competition' she plans to say to her co-innkeepers -- a few silver lighter. When she sees Xual talking to an intimidating figure. She steps up to be within 10 feet. 

"Ahoy," she says, "are you here to welcome us to the neighbourhood?"

Damros ambles up from his strolling about the area.  "Did you know there is a herbalist and potion maker behind this place..."  he stops mid sentence as he notices 'the company' at the front door.   

Moving slowly, he places himself along the wall of the building.  Stealth: 12

"Greetings. I am Savra Belabrantan with the Order of the Gauntlet. I'm here to invite those of you interested in joining us to come to the Halls of Justice, the temple of Tyr, where you can be sworn into the order. The swearing-in ceremony involves the recitation of an oath to find and destroy evil in all its forms. Xaul you are a name who came to our attention as someone who might be a good fit for the order. Your friends may come too and watch, and then if you do join us, I have a mission for you. To be clear, your friends can help on any missions without being members but it does require a member to be given a mission."

Xaul listens intently and murmurs 'Nice to meet you, Savra. You'd like me to join your religion and order, huh?' He thinks for a second and then smirks, saying 'Well, I'd say I'm somewhat of a do-gooder myself. Let me check for you.' He puts his flask to his ear, like he's listening to the ocean waves through a conch shell (or on a phone call, but that comparison couldn't work) and then after a few seconds of 'Mmhm. Sure. That's right. Comes with missions too', he turns to Savra and says 'I would be more than happy to join the Order of the Gauntlet and to help seek and defeat all evil. When is the temple next free for me to recite my oath?'

"I am glad that you are interested. You can come to the temple now if you wish. We have other potential recruits too so you won't be alone. Or if not you could come at noon tomorrow." she looks around "Are any of you also interested or just Xaul?"

Xaul nods and says 'I think we'd love to come look around and I'd be happy to swear my oath now, we've just moved in here but have little to do so that sounds excellent!'

Sehaethas shakes his head no, while hoping Kylaski doesn't override that. For her part Kylaski doesn't want the commitment, though she might drag Sehaethas on quests if they sound interesting.

Damros slides into the light, "I have no qualms about supporting Xaul in his aspirations.  Plus it might be interesting to see this ceremony."

You travel (either all or just some of you) to the temple (of which there is no description) for the swearing in ceremony. You are given a silver gauntlet to wear while you recite the oath (of which Reddit has provided me a nice one to use as no official one exists). Does Damros take part or just watch?

I, (insert name here) am a weapon against evil, my faith my sharpened edge. I will strike down those that do evil, and wisely council those that would start down its path. So faith sharpens faith, and upon this silvered gauntlet I swear my faith to myself, my god, and my friends.

After the ceremony, Savra takes you aside to give you your first mission. “We hear that the Zhents are paying gangs in the Field Ward to attack suspected Xanathar Guild members. Fights are breaking out in the ward daily. Stop a fight before it happens. We need to send a message to these thugs that further altercations won’t be tolerated.”

Damros tried to be respectful in the moment, though he just could not understand the logic behind it all.  He was glad for Xaul - being asked ... or was it chosen? ...  to swear allegiance to Tyr and all He stands for.  For Damros, it just felt strange to have sworn fealty to the Raven Queen and then seek aligning with another Diety.  

All the same, Damros was one of the first to slap Xaul on his back and congratulate him on his new chosen Path.

Skye leans against one pillar as Xual swears his loyalty and vow to the justice-lusting old One-hand. Still, she claps as the vow finishes and Xual is welcomed to this new fraternity. It's not a marriage vow, but it's not far off -- still, she has only known Xual a short time and perhaps he has a long history with the tenets and commandments of Tyr. 

If it aims her at the Zhents who betrayed her, she's happy to walk alongside as they interrupt their business operations. 

"Field ward, is it? What are we looking at here, what more can you tell us?" asks Skye after Xual and his inductor return from beneath the domed roof of the temple of the wolf's bane. 

Xaul completes his oath diligently and then rejoins the party again with a grin. He listens intently as Skye asks some questions about the upcoming mission; he has things he wouldn’t mind asking too but will let others do the talking for now. 

'Does this give Xaul (and company) a license to kill or just 'mess them up bad?'', Damros wonders. 

He turns and addresses Savra, "Since we are still new to the area, where IS Field Ward?  And, if we start 'teaching the Zhent' manners, will the City Watch toss us in jail?"