Quillary morphs back into her half elven form. The shakes herself a little, reminiscent of a dog. "Those were shape changers. Rats," she says nonchalantly, like that's normal. "And also jerks. Jerk wererats." She pats Fanny on the shoulder. "It is good to see you again. Oh, that is Lif, the spirit that was here before us. They help about the place. And this is Root," she leans down to dust Root's leaves a little, then pokes a finger into her soil, testing for moisture. "You have taken good care of her, Lif, thank you."

Hildigrim's head jerks at Quillary's revelation. "Wererats?" he asks, sounding much more interested than revolted. He crosses to a window to spy on them as they leave. "I wonder what they wanted?" he asks, again sounding curious rather than put out.

Perception: 19

Quote from DirtyDogP >>

He crosses to a window to spy on them as they leave.

Hildigrim can only watch them for a short time, from the window. After exiting your manor, they turn left (south). This is away from the North Entrance of the Alley. That gang of 4 might be going towards the South Entrance, or might be going deeper into Trollskull Alley. You'd have to tail them in person, or with Volo, in order to learn any more.
(The packed buildings result in only 3 entrance side streets that connect the alley with the neighboring streets. Despite the run-down condition of your manor, most of the buildings in the alley are rowhouses that serve as private residences for upper-middle class Waterdavians.)

Fanny relaxes a bit after Qullary's introductions, but still seems a bit nervous around a ghost and an awakened shrub (for the first time).
"I'm no longer working with the military. My heart wasn't in it. And you remember that idiot elf Bart, the guy they kept partnering with me? Non-stop troubles, officers expecting me to babysit him on top of my normal duties... I had enough. But now that I'm back in Waterdeep, expenses are piling up. And, well, I need a job.

"During the wagon trip, you guys were talking about about opening a tavern or a restaurant or something. I'm not a chef or a waiter or a bartender. But I think you need a manager who can handle things when you are out adventuring. Someone who has experience keeping a squad of workers on top of their tasks. If things get rowdy, you'll need a bouncer too. Someone who can knock heads, but not enough to call in the Waterdeep law keepers. Fortunately, I can fill both jobs at the same time. What do you say?"

Fanny also gives a few references, if you will consider hiring her: acquaintances in Waterdeep with good reputations, some other soldiers in her platoon who can recommend her, and the like.

Quillary nods enthusiastically (except when she scowls at Bart's name). "Of course we will take you on," she says, not bothering to check with the others. "Now, I need a bath." She begins shedding her equipment and clothing right there in the common room, but stops when people give her looks. She blinks around, then gathers her stuff and pads her way all the way to the top to her room (if I recall she had the tippy-top garret room?).

(OOC: Does Hildigrim want to do more active surveillance of the halfling gang?)

Drusk suggests that Quillary wait a moment.

His suggestion from earlier was, after everyone finishes their meal, that everyone head to a nearby Waterdeep fancy spa for the entire evening.
Get the full pampering: baths, steam rooms, massages, skin-care (for the wounds), clothes washed and dried, weapon cleaning, etc.
(All expenses paid out of the party funds, since you found a nice stash in the aboleth cave.)

If Fanny is being hired, then her first duty would be to stay in the Road's End until the party returns, to make sure that halfling gang doesn't come back.

Quillary does pause, semi-disrobed and her clothes and stuff in her hands. "Like a natural spring, but in the city? I would like to see such a thing. They are not uncommon where I grew up, but I have missed bathing that way." She may not have fully grasped the concept, yet.

OOC: Quillary doesn't really suspect them of anything, so, no, he won't pursue them any further at this time.

Once the halflings are out of view, Hildigrim turns to join Fanny and the others to listen to her story. As Quillary speaks up, the halfling smiles and nods. "Splendid," he comments.

(OOC: D&D web pages can be most informative. In case you can use it for any of your other campaigns: Link to Nightlife in Waterdeep.)

Drusk intended for the party to go to the Swordshire House, the finest inn of the North Ward (where your manor is located). However, Hildigrim is reluctant, as he considers it tacky, and exaggerates some aspects of halfling home style in order to pander to visiting nobles.

Instead, you walk the extra distance to the Castle Ward, but not to the Yawning Portal.
You go to The Jade Jug, Waterdeep's plushest inn with luxury in every detail.

After a few hours of rest and pampering in their facilities (which includes magical hot springs, not quite a natural ones), you return back to the Road's End.
Fanny is a bit concerned when you return. She saw a rat come out of the kitchen. When she went to investigate, she heard even more rodents scurrying into hiding. She found two fist-sized holes chewed through the boards along the exterior wall. These rats seem quite aggressive to have made those holes, since the workers had replaced those floorboards just a few days ago. "I don't know any rat catchers, but if you want me to hire someone for you, I can do that tomorrow, after I come in to work." (She looked serious when discussing the rats, but does have a pleased smile about "coming in to work".)

The party gets a pleasant night's rest in your own beds, ready for the next day.
(Everyone is officially 8th level now. And take a Long Rest to reset all your abilities and spell slots.)

Jorin has a level of modesty about his body akin to Quillary and spends nearly the whole time at the spa as naked as wouldn't get him kicked out.  His body has a patchwork of tattoos and scars, which he happily tells the stories of to whoever might ask.  He thoroughly enjoys the experience and remarks that, perhaps, food and drink are not the only things worthy of his coin in the future.

He speaks with Fanny about buying a pair of large cats, crag cats if possible, to deal with the rats.  He explains that, in the mountains of his homeland,  he never saw a rats nest anywhere near a crag cat den.  She explains about the rat catcher option and Jorin considers it a moment before agreeing that, while not as effective as the crag cats, it would probably be safer for the customers.

(OOC > Giant Eagle, baby. What are the rules for people riding on Large sized birds?)

Quillary, at the spa, has no modesty at all, as you might imagine. Her body is as intricately and alternately colored as her face, and her spores stay with her, interacting weirdly with the water. This is the first time any of the members of the party have seen her without the cat skull that usually adorns her forehead. Turns out it is intricately woven in to her hair, it and the flowers and feather and the rest are in some sort of a net that she takes some time to remove (and later, put back).

The next morning there is some sort of ruckus involving the griffon cavalry and some kind of giant bird, but eventually Quillary makes her way down to the common room, her relaxing bath from yesterday having given way to a disheveled look (like she needs to preen) and some light scratches all over her body. She shrugs it off if questioned.

On the matter of rats, she has all sorts of suggestions, from magically enlarging insects to send them into the holes to deal with the rats, to transforming herself into something (sadly, not a crag cat) to go get them, to hiring the wererats to lure them away. "Hm. it seems awfully coincidental that they were here and now there are rats..." she says.

I never said so, but I'm fine with Drusk keeping the boots. Shall I add the amulet used to control a Shield Guardian to my inventory?

Unlike Jorin and Quillary, Hildigrim is both modest and bashful. Not only does he keep Quillary from seeing much of his skin at all, but he is reticent to allow Drusk or Jorin to see him sans undergarments either. He hurries to get into the water as quickly as possible after disrobing and averts his eyes if he thinks he's going to see "too much" of his friends. And he's extremely talkative. Even for Hildi. It's clear he's quite uncomfortable, though he thanks Drusk innumerable times for the "extremely pleasant" treat and has nothing but varied flowery compliments concerning the whole experience, which he shares with friend and stranger alike.

Hildigrim shares Quillary's suspicion that the wererats may be involved in the recent infestation. "If I had the proper components, I could transform Volo into a cat, but it would cost 10 gold to change him into the feline and 10 more to change him back into an owl," the halfling says. He's clearly not excited about the idea. "Perhaps I could spend a little time investigating these four halflings. I could ask around tomorrow. In the meantime, Volo could keep watch in the kitchen. He may be small, but his claws and beak are still very sharp." He uses a finger to give the bird a scritch between the ears.

(OOC: Thanks for the boots. Yes, Hildigrim should take the amulet. Like I said, I don't have any plans for it, but if you can think of a clever use for it at some point down the road, by all means mention it then.)

Drusk wants to spend this day visiting the bank (to take care of funds for the Road's End work), and to visit the brewery to continue his apprenticeship there.

Pascal is starting to take interviews for chefs and waiters, and checking local produce suppliers.

That leaves Hildigrim, Jorin, and Quillary, if they want to do some investigating.
Hildigrim will be visiting his family at the docks this afternoon and evening, but he does have a few hours this morning.
(Do J and Q have any plans for this afternoon?)

Drusk makes a suggestion: "With guidance from the Goddess, I can help your investigation get started, before I take off. With Locate Creature, I can find "Kelso the wererat" if he is in Trollskull Alley or the neighboring streets. I'm not sure the spell would work if I looked for "Kelso the halfling", so its good that Quillary learned more about them.

"I can concentrate long enough to tell you where to go. Then Hildigrim just needs to hide close enough to them to spy on them through Volo's senses. (You'd probably want Jorin to watch over your body while doing that.) Maybe Quillary can shape-change to assist Volo... that won't work, you can't assume flying forms..." (blinks a few times) "Oh ho, you just picked up that ability. I didn't realize until now why you kept muttering "giant eagle" and cackling."

Quillary cocks her head. "As I understand it, Good Volo will be observing these holes in the kitchen, and catching that which pokes its whiskers out? I will not need wings to assist." She crouches down by the hole, judging the size of it. "I could venture in as a weasel, but am concerned should I become beset by a swarm of rats, and then return to my regular form in such a tight space. That would be... uncomfortable." She looks about the place. "I could ensorcel some centipedes or the like to a larger size, and then have the accompany me, but I expect I would run out of time exploring a large warren..."

The half elf stands up, dusting off her hands. "Good Volo may be our best choice, while Hildigrim goes in a search of these wererats. Even if they are not responsible," she looks doubtful about that prospect, "They may know how to rid us of the problem. You should take my gold, it will likely be a help in convincing them." (By this she means, use party funds, please, for bribing/hiring the wererats.)

"In the meantime, I would like to observe the flying beast of Waterdeep, that I might better call on their form in the future. Although, I may keep a smaller profile than I attempted this morning. Gael'effarin the Broad Winged did not have griffons to contend with when he visited my adopted family's grove."

(OOC > I would normally have her accompany Hildigrim, but it looks like we're splitting up for some quick off-screen downtime action? But if Hildi, Jorin, and Quillary want to go hunting wererats together, she would go along.)

(Um... I just re-read the rat post... do these holes just go outside? Not into the ground and some sort of rat warren? They are described as being in the outer wall of the building...)

Quote from Mingofaust >>

(Um... I just re-read the rat post... do these holes just go outside? Not into the ground and some sort of rat warren? They are described as being in the outer wall of the building...)

(OOC: I wasn't clear on that. Your interpretation is correct.
These holes go from the outside of the manor through to the kitchen. It isn't obvious why a rat would pick this location to chew through brand new wood boards.
Drusk wasn't sure if the group wanted to investigate and guard against the potential rat menace, or surveil the were rats. His suggestion was to help you find the gang of 4 halflings.)

After Fanny got rid of the rats she could find in the kitchen last night, you haven't found any signs of rat warrens in the cellars, kitchen or around the exterior of the building. No traces of rats this morning (so far).

(If Quillary spends the afternoon at an aviary, and Jorin goes to a nearby blacksmith shop to practice his skills, then everyone has something to do this afternoon/evening.
But you still have 4 hours in the morning before Hlidigrim visits the relatives.)

 "Quillary, perhaps you could take a small winged form and be our scout out in the streets after Drusk gets an idea of where to send us?  If not, I am happy to stand sentinel for Hildi while he communes with Volo."

(OOC > I just edited my longer post above by striking a bunch of stuff related to hunting rats underground.)

Quillary turns to the others. "I would accompany Hildigrim this morning in searching out these wererats, while Good Volo watches here or outside. I thought them harmless yesterday, but this smells of them... not literally."

Hildigrim produces his spellbook and taps the cover twice with his index finger. "I also happen to have access to a new spell that can turn my body and everything I am wearing and carrying ... invisible," he says dramatically. "Technically, I can turn any creature invisible." He grins at Pascal. "Even you, my big friend. The magic ends if the imperceptible makes any aggressive act. Or if my concentration is interrupted. But in a circumstance where the goal is surveillance, it may come in very handy."

Quillary claps her ands, delighted at this. "And I can make myself inconspicuous, like a common bird, or innocuous, like a mouse." Then she looks over at Jorin, considering. "Perhaps he can be the distraction?"