The group traveled further into the sewer, finally locating the Xanathar's guild hideout. After quietly killing the sleeping Goblin guard, they ambushed two Xanathar's guild thugs. The Duregar and human were defeated and tied up. From the still conscious human, who some of you recognized from the Yawning Portal where he had an altercation with Yagra Stonefist.
You learned from him that the leader of this hideout was a half-orc mage named Grum'shar. Upon entering Grum'shar's chamber, you discovered him torturing Floon Blagmaar in front of an audience. A horrifying creature that Ira later identified as a Mindflayer was observing along with a creature that appeared to be a brain with legs that Ira identified as an Intellect Devourer. The Mindflayer departed, leaving Grum'shar and its pet to deal with you.
Grum'shar was slain by a furious Ranaer, and Ira landed the finishing blow on the Intellect Devourer.
Game watched the Mindflayer escape after placing something on an intricately carved pillar, opening a magic gateway. Exploring the room, you found a chest with two Healing Potions and a great deal of coin you have already split up among the five of you. Aegis also found Grum'shar's spellbook.
Upon returning to the captured prisoners, you discovered the Duregar had been stabbed through the heart and killed.
You took the human prisoner to the Watch and reported to them what occurred. You then returned Floon to the Yawning Portal and a very grateful Volo. Though he does not have your payment in coin, as payment for finding his friend he will sign over the deed to a piece of property he owns in the North Ward called Trollskull Manor.
You've emerged from the whole ordeal slightly stronger, and with the gratitude and friendship of Floon Blagmaar, Volothamp Geddarm, and Ranaer Neverember.
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Current Characters: Tailine, Tiefling Rogue 2 - Zanoliv
The five of you gather with Volo at Highsun at a courthouse in the North Ward. You don't have long to wait before a tiefling in black magistrate's robes enters the room. Her attitude is polite but brisk as she opens her folio of papers and then looks over the deed that Volo has laid on the table. "I am Magistrate Kylynne Silmerhelve, here to witness and notarize this transfer of property."
Volo signs the transfer and then gives the quill to whoever will take it next.
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Current Characters: Tailine, Tiefling Rogue 2 - Zanoliv
Aegis looks to the rest of the group, silent in their insecurity. They take the quill from Gaz and looks to Ira, who gives a gentle nod, and does not take their eyes off of her while they print the letters of their name as it would appear on a digital clock before holding out the quill to the next willing signee.
Game and Standobras sign their names in turn and the magistrate adds her signature before announcing the business to be finished and moving on to her next appointment.
Volo rolls up the deed, puts it in a scroll case, and hands it to Ira and hands a ring of keys to Gaz. "Hopefully the five of you get more use out of it then I did! Bought the place for research on a book about spirits, but I'm rethinking the idea for my next volume. I would be most pleased to see you all again. If there is any way I can be of aid, you know where to find me. If you ever need a research companion or another set of eyes on a manuscript Lady Ira, I hope you will think of me!"
Volo will part ways with you outside the courthouse as your group travels a few blocks over to see your new property.
Walking through the North Ward is pleasant. Trollskull Alley is situated in an upper middleclass neighborhood filled with houses and shops. The sun is high in the sky and the street is busy with people coming and going. You can hear the sound of metal ringing at a nearby smithy and a group of well dressed halfling players are performing a song. Folk who are out shopping or walking for pleasure pause to watch the show- a comedic song about an evil necromancer who is cursed by a magic artifact to unwittingly do good for the rest of his days.
You quickly spot Trollskull manor, which sticks out like a sore thumb among all the well kept homes and shops. Volo wasn't exaggerating when he said it needed work!
It’s a four story building with balconies, a turret, and five chimneys. At one point it must have been very grand, but now it has fallen into a state of disrepair. The ground floor windows are all boarded up and some of the windows on the upper floors are broken. Even from the street level it’s evident that there’s been some damage to the roof.
Stone steps lead up to a front door that is chained shut. There is another door leading up a set of stone stairs to an entry on the second floor.
Gaz walks up to the front door whistling like he's the happiest man in the world and begins to search for any padlocks locking the chains. If they are there he's gonna open them, if there aren't any he's gonna say "Well the front door doesn't want us in, but I have not been defeated by a door yet and I'm not about to start, we could try the second floor."
Gaz finds the key to the padlock on the front door after a few tries. A bit of red paint flakes away off or the door as the chains are removed and it creaks open.
The first floor looks like it was a tavern when this place was last inhabited. There are broken tables and chairs scattered in groups, a hearth off to the left side of the room, and a long L shaped bar against the back wall. Dust covers everything and there’s a smell of mold and old beer. There’s a crunch of broken glass under your boots… this place will need some serious sweeping before it’s safe to walk barefoot.
Circling behind the bar, it looks like an old keg has rusted out. The leak has caused damage to the wooden floor which sags under your feet when you walk on it. There’s a hatch leading down to the cellar, but the wood is swollen and warped from the water damage. It will probably take a bit of muscle to get it open.
The pantry is empty except for a few old sacks that have been torn open by rodent teeth. A door that leads out to what would be the back of the manor is chained closed from this side.
A pair of broken swinging doors leads from the pantry to the kitchen. It seems dusty but functional except for the hearth which has a cracked stone that will need to be replaced. A large sturdy prep table still stands in the middle of the room and a sink with a faucet confirms that the building does have plumbing.
There are no stairs to the upper floors from here. It looks like there used to be, but the stairway was removed at some point to separate the tavern from the living quarters above.
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Current Characters: Tailine, Tiefling Rogue 2 - Zanoliv
Moving towards the set of chains on the back door he says "Well it needs a bit of a fix but it seems in one piece more or less. I'm gonna open the back door to let some air flow, should we check upstairs and leave the cellar for later or do we start from bellow?" once by the chains he'll start working on that lock.
“It is clear that this abode will require some reparations in order for it to be deemed “livable” by the standards set here in Waterdeep. It wouldn’t be difficult, but it may be costly. It also seems that, should we wish to reopen this portion of the building to the public, we could have our own passive income. Perhaps something we should consider. I am interested in inspecting this place, foundation to attic, in order to fully understand the length of repairs required.”
Aegis will follow Gaz as they try to assess the costs.
You all take some time to explore the rest of the building
Cellar- Standobras manages to force the hatch open and inspection reveals there’s standing water about ankle deep down there. Anyone who goes down and looks will find a broken pipe dangling from the ceiling, water steadily dripping down.
Going back outside, a set of stone steps on the North side of the building leads up to a door on the second floor.
2nd Floor
The door opens into a common room with a couple of old end tables and an upholstered chair that sags terribly. The fireplace in this room looks to be in good condition, though you imagine all of the chimneys in this place need to be swept.
Moving into the den, the turret full of West facing windows will make this room pleasant and sunny once it’s clean. A doorway to the North leads out onto a long, wood-railed balcony overlooking Saerdoun Street. The railings are heavily damaged. A second doorway leads to a similar balcony facing Westward overlooking the Alley.
A door in the south-east corner leads down a long dusty hallway to a master bedroom. Two stained glass windows in this bedroom hint at its former beauty. An old tarnished chandelier dangles precariously from the ceiling and a four-post bed sits in the south-east corner. The bed has been stripped of its linen and mattress and only a bare frame remains. A small hearth decorates the eastern wall.
The door on the south wall of the common room leads to a bare and dusty hall. A set of stairs winds up to the next floor and there is a door leading to another room.
The spare room could serve many purposes. It contains a small hearth and locked double-doors lead out to a small balcony facing the back of the manor with ornate, iron spiked railings. A few potted plants have been left out and are long-dead. You can get a good view of the East side of the Alley from here.
3rd Floor
The hall is bare and dusty, like the one below it.
Both privies could use cleaning but seem serviceable.
Two large stained-glass windows shine light into the numerous shelves in the library. A large desk sits in the center and old quills and shreds of parchment are scattered around the room. Sadly, only a few old dusty books remain on the shelves.
The North bedroom features a small reading nook in the sun-lit turret. A sturdy ladder propped against the window can be folded open and used to access a locked hatch on the ceiling, leading to the peak of the turret. A painting propped up against the wall looks like a birds eye view of the Alley. Another hearth resides on the south wall. A door on the east leads to a private bath. There is a large copper bathtub, its faucet dripping steadily.
Climbing through the hatch reveals the small turret peak. A dusty oil lantern dangles from the conical roof. A small window provides the highest westward view from the Manor, overlooking the Alley. A dozen finely made silk pillows are tossed haphazardly in the corner and there is an artist's easel set up by the window.
Though the master bedroom is quite bare, it is in good condition. Windows are intact and the four-posted canopy bed is fairly clean aside from some cobwebs. The hearth here is well intact and a large dusty mirror hangs on the north wall. The southern window provides an excellent view into the greenhouse which takes up the third floor of the building next door. A door on the east leads into a private bath with a sink and claw-footed bathtub.
4th Floor
Opening the door to the attic bedroom provokes a sudden flutter of movements and angry caws, as a family of ravens is disturbed. The three ravens quickly fly away through a hole in the roof. Black feathers flutter through the now still air. The bed here has been converted into a large raven's nest, replete with all sorts of junk and trinkets like tree branches, bones, pieces of wire and wool.
The attic storage room is cluttered with dusty decor and broken furniture. A stack of paintings sit precariously in the north-west corner. A few old mounted animal heads, such as elk and bears, lay protected under a white sheet. Old oil lamps and lanterns are scattered among the objects. Old musty bedrolls are propped against the eastern wall.
You'll need estimates from a few guilds to figure out the costs. Based on the damages you're seeing you'll want to talk to:
The Cellarers and Plumbers Guild
The Carpenters, Roofers, and Plasterers Guild
The Guild of Glassblowers, Glaziers, and Spectacle-makers
The Guild of Stonecutters, Masons, Potters, and Tile-makers
As a group, you decide that the most urgent things to fix are the roof and the plumbing. It is early enough in the day that you have time to visit the appropriate guilds and ask for someone to make an assessment. You meet with Jiup Tiang of the Carpenter’s Roofers and Plasterer’s Guild and Barbhed Rockjaw from the Cellarer and Plumber’s Guild. They inspect the roof and pipe damage and give you a quote of 200gp to fix the roof and 80gp to fix the plumbing.
They can have everything fixed over the next tenday.
Aegis- You make your way to the book shop you noticed on the way here, Book Wyrm’s Treasure. Inside, the shop seems much bigger than it looks from the outside. Shelves filled with books fill all of the first floor, and you see a staircase winding up to a second floor that likewise seems packed with books. Behind the counter on the first floor you see a short dragonborn man with golden scales, spectacles perched on his nose. Behind the counter are locked glass cabinets willed with scrolls.
He seems a bit baffled at first by your construct nature, but your demeanor and the fact that you are an active member of The Order smooth things over. The dragonborn introduces himself as Rishaal. When you bring out Grum’shar’s spellbook, he flips through the pages.
“Hmm… you’d like scrolls in exchange for this?” He rubs his chin thoughtfully. “For the average wizard that would not be the soundest of financial exchanges- the cost of transcribing magical scrolls being what it is. However, this book contains four spells that are not currently in my repertoire, and this will widen the selection of scrolls I am able to sell.”
He thinks for a moment, “Very well- you have a deal. I already have scrolls of Shield and Unseen Servant so you can have those now. I’ll set one of my assistants to creating the other scrolls. They will be ready four days from now. Is that acceptable?”
Rishaal's Stock of Scrolls for sale (Everyone can look and I will put this in the discord as well)
Excellent. Standobras will help with the work as much as he can. That said, he’ll stop by the Yawning Portal before things get moving and ask Durnan for advice on how to run a tavern. He’ll also ask him if he knows of a skilled bartender that is currently unemployed. This bartender should be willing to run the tavern with minimal direction. That means that he should be a good judge of character, have good business sense, be good to his employees and, due to the particular nature of our future tavern, be fairly inventive.
Durnan pensively cleans his glass after talking to you for a bit about the generalities of tavern keeping.
"As for bartenders, I can think of a few people who are looking for work. You can talk to them and see who suits best." He takes out a piece of paper and writes down some names and contact information. “There’s Egos Gadilnion. He’s a bit of a wet blanket but a hard worker with plenty of experience. Also Lione Yrandhen. He’s more of the flashy type. Customers take a shine to him… I guess you’ll see why if you meet him. Young for an elf, but has a good head on his shoulders. Last person I’d recommend as a possible candidate is Tap Tap. She’s a bit… eccentric but that sounds like it might be what you’re looking for. No place she works is ever boring, that’s for sure.”
Ira-
You tag along with Standobras to the Yawning Portal and find Volo at a table reading a tome and taking notes. "Ah! Lady Ira! How delightful to see you!"
Game-
You slip away from the group and start canvasing shops in the Dock Ward. It's your first time planning something like this completely on your own, but you feel confidant you can pull it off. (We'll make your rolls at the end of downtime to see if you pull it off.)
Gaz-
Feeling hopeful about the drastic changes that have come your way, you start to put out feelers for messenger jobs around the city to earn a bit of coin. You prove to be quick on your feet and it seems like folk are willing to give you a shot. (We'll roll to see how much money you make at the end of downtime.)
You spend your time helping around the Manor, making friendly conversation with the carpenters and plumbers while being careful not to step on their toes. You are a likeable man and while talking with them learn there is another pub that recently opened a couple blocks over called Frewn’s Brews, but the guild members have nothing good to say about the place.
“Owner was trying to save coin by fixin’ his own roof and not paying the guild. And then he went and told Guildsman Rockjaw that his beard looked like barnacles on a ship. Can tell you right now he won’t be gettin’ any business from us, that’s for sure.”
You also make a deal with the Carpenter’s guild, offering your magical healing in exchange for the cost of some of the labor.
Gaz-
You spend the tenday working as a messenger around the district. Your quickness earns you some good coin and by the last day you’ve earned 20gp
Game -
You set your sights on a different way of making coin and end up targeting a ramshackle pawn shop in the Dock Ward. With your quiet footsteps, quick hands, and guile you end up lightening the shop owners’ safe and get away with 50gp
Aegis -
You get your scrolls from Rishaal and spend the rest of your time using your magic to help fix things around the manor. Some of the stuffier guild members grumble about it a bit but The Order is it’s own guild and it’s under your purview to use mending to fix things. Overall you are able to get some work done and save the group some gold.
(Go ahead and make a Charisma check and we’ll determine how much GP worth of work you get done.)
Ira -
You spend the week studying and spending some time talking to Volo. (If there is anything specific you want to research or talk about let me know here or on discord.)
-------
During the week, all five of you gather to interview potential Bartenders. Deciding that Egos doesn’t sound like what you are looking for, you separately interview the other two recommendations from Durnan.
Lione Yrandhen is a young male elf with tan skin, blonde hair, and green eyes. Ira and anyone else familiar with how elves age judge him to be around two centuries old. He has a thin frame, but with his friendly manner and bright smile he is very charming.
Tap Tap is a female Kenku with glossy black feathers. She is small for her kind but her clawed hands are nimble. Talking to her is very interesting since, like all Kenku, she has no voice of her own and sometimes switches voices mid sentence when answering questions. She does keep a piece of charcoal and paper with her to write if she doesn’t have the proper words to say.
You can ask them questions and/or make a general insight check.
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Current Characters: Tailine, Tiefling Rogue 2 - Zanoliv
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
General insight to see how they feel about us 13 but we have to ask them a few questions, they are going to run the show after all.
This question kindda works for both of them "So, what can you tell us about your experience tending bars and the like? Had any experience making drinks, I know it's kind of a strange practice but we think it's worth following, what do you think?"
Lione will reply, "I've been tending bar up and down the Sword Coast for the past few decades. I've done a bit of experimenting with adding flavored liquors to other drinks and what you have in mind sounds like something I'd like to try."He has a smooth warm voice that probably makes anyone attracted to men feel a little bit like swooning.
Tap Tap says, "I have been working in taverns for thirteen years. Done every job from scrubbing floors to handling coin." Her eyes shine a bit and she rubs her hands together, "Experimentsare fun!Make drinksthatlook prettyandtaste good." Some of her phrases are all the same voice, like someone said it out loud just for her to mimic, but other phrases are the usual hodge-podge of voices normally used by Kenku.
Gaz: They both seem genuinely interested in the concept for the kind of tavern you want to run, though Tap Tap is a bit more energetic with her enthusiasm.
Aegis:You pay close attention to the conversation, but don't get any sense of sketchiness or dishonesty from either of them.
( With that Charisma check you can shave 20gp off of your repair costs. )
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Current Characters: Tailine, Tiefling Rogue 2 - Zanoliv
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Summary of Live Game Events:
The group traveled further into the sewer, finally locating the Xanathar's guild hideout. After quietly killing the sleeping Goblin guard, they ambushed two Xanathar's guild thugs. The Duregar and human were defeated and tied up. From the still conscious human, who some of you recognized from the Yawning Portal where he had an altercation with Yagra Stonefist.
You learned from him that the leader of this hideout was a half-orc mage named Grum'shar. Upon entering Grum'shar's chamber, you discovered him torturing Floon Blagmaar in front of an audience. A horrifying creature that Ira later identified as a Mindflayer was observing along with a creature that appeared to be a brain with legs that Ira identified as an Intellect Devourer. The Mindflayer departed, leaving Grum'shar and its pet to deal with you.
Grum'shar was slain by a furious Ranaer, and Ira landed the finishing blow on the Intellect Devourer.
Game watched the Mindflayer escape after placing something on an intricately carved pillar, opening a magic gateway. Exploring the room, you found a chest with two Healing Potions and a great deal of coin you have already split up among the five of you. Aegis also found Grum'shar's spellbook.
Upon returning to the captured prisoners, you discovered the Duregar had been stabbed through the heart and killed.
You took the human prisoner to the Watch and reported to them what occurred. You then returned Floon to the Yawning Portal and a very grateful Volo. Though he does not have your payment in coin, as payment for finding his friend he will sign over the deed to a piece of property he owns in the North Ward called Trollskull Manor.
You've emerged from the whole ordeal slightly stronger, and with the gratitude and friendship of Floon Blagmaar, Volothamp Geddarm, and Ranaer Neverember.
Current Characters: Tailine, Tiefling Rogue 2 - Zanoliv
18th day of Ches, 1492 DR
The five of you gather with Volo at Highsun at a courthouse in the North Ward. You don't have long to wait before a tiefling in black magistrate's robes enters the room. Her attitude is polite but brisk as she opens her folio of papers and then looks over the deed that Volo has laid on the table. "I am Magistrate Kylynne Silmerhelve, here to witness and notarize this transfer of property."
Volo signs the transfer and then gives the quill to whoever will take it next.
Current Characters: Tailine, Tiefling Rogue 2 - Zanoliv
Gaz will take it, sign it and proceed to give it to the next person doing his best to not vibrate with happiness.
Aegis looks to the rest of the group, silent in their insecurity. They take the quill from Gaz and looks to Ira, who gives a gentle nod, and does not take their eyes off of her while they print the letters of their name as it would appear on a digital clock before holding out the quill to the next willing signee.
Ira will take the quill, and with a trained hand sign her own name under the deed.
Game and Standobras sign their names in turn and the magistrate adds her signature before announcing the business to be finished and moving on to her next appointment.
Volo rolls up the deed, puts it in a scroll case, and hands it to Ira and hands a ring of keys to Gaz. "Hopefully the five of you get more use out of it then I did! Bought the place for research on a book about spirits, but I'm rethinking the idea for my next volume. I would be most pleased to see you all again. If there is any way I can be of aid, you know where to find me. If you ever need a research companion or another set of eyes on a manuscript Lady Ira, I hope you will think of me!"
Volo will part ways with you outside the courthouse as your group travels a few blocks over to see your new property.
Walking through the North Ward is pleasant. Trollskull Alley is situated in an upper middleclass neighborhood filled with houses and shops. The sun is high in the sky and the street is busy with people coming and going. You can hear the sound of metal ringing at a nearby smithy and a group of well dressed halfling players are performing a song. Folk who are out shopping or walking for pleasure pause to watch the show- a comedic song about an evil necromancer who is cursed by a magic artifact to unwittingly do good for the rest of his days.
You quickly spot Trollskull manor, which sticks out like a sore thumb among all the well kept homes and shops. Volo wasn't exaggerating when he said it needed work!
It’s a four story building with balconies, a turret, and five chimneys. At one point it must have been very grand, but now it has fallen into a state of disrepair. The ground floor windows are all boarded up and some of the windows on the upper floors are broken. Even from the street level it’s evident that there’s been some damage to the roof.
Stone steps lead up to a front door that is chained shut. There is another door leading up a set of stone stairs to an entry on the second floor.
Current Characters: Tailine, Tiefling Rogue 2 - Zanoliv
Gaz walks up to the front door whistling like he's the happiest man in the world and begins to search for any padlocks locking the chains. If they are there he's gonna open them, if there aren't any he's gonna say "Well the front door doesn't want us in, but I have not been defeated by a door yet and I'm not about to start, we could try the second floor."
Gaz finds the key to the padlock on the front door after a few tries. A bit of red paint flakes away off or the door as the chains are removed and it creaks open.
The first floor looks like it was a tavern when this place was last inhabited. There are broken tables and chairs scattered in groups, a hearth off to the left side of the room, and a long L shaped bar against the back wall. Dust covers everything and there’s a smell of mold and old beer. There’s a crunch of broken glass under your boots… this place will need some serious sweeping before it’s safe to walk barefoot.
Circling behind the bar, it looks like an old keg has rusted out. The leak has caused damage to the wooden floor which sags under your feet when you walk on it. There’s a hatch leading down to the cellar, but the wood is swollen and warped from the water damage. It will probably take a bit of muscle to get it open.
The pantry is empty except for a few old sacks that have been torn open by rodent teeth. A door that leads out to what would be the back of the manor is chained closed from this side.
A pair of broken swinging doors leads from the pantry to the kitchen. It seems dusty but functional except for the hearth which has a cracked stone that will need to be replaced. A large sturdy prep table still stands in the middle of the room and a sink with a faucet confirms that the building does have plumbing.
There are no stairs to the upper floors from here. It looks like there used to be, but the stairway was removed at some point to separate the tavern from the living quarters above.
Current Characters: Tailine, Tiefling Rogue 2 - Zanoliv
Moving towards the set of chains on the back door he says "Well it needs a bit of a fix but it seems in one piece more or less. I'm gonna open the back door to let some air flow, should we check upstairs and leave the cellar for later or do we start from bellow?" once by the chains he'll start working on that lock.
Aegis will take stock of all that they can see.
“It is clear that this abode will require some reparations in order for it to be deemed “livable” by the standards set here in Waterdeep. It wouldn’t be difficult, but it may be costly. It also seems that, should we wish to reopen this portion of the building to the public, we could have our own passive income. Perhaps something we should consider. I am interested in inspecting this place, foundation to attic, in order to fully understand the length of repairs required.”
Aegis will follow Gaz as they try to assess the costs.
You all take some time to explore the rest of the building
Cellar- Standobras manages to force the hatch open and inspection reveals there’s standing water about ankle deep down there. Anyone who goes down and looks will find a broken pipe dangling from the ceiling, water steadily dripping down.
Going back outside, a set of stone steps on the North side of the building leads up to a door on the second floor.
2nd Floor
The door opens into a common room with a couple of old end tables and an upholstered chair that sags terribly. The fireplace in this room looks to be in good condition, though you imagine all of the chimneys in this place need to be swept.
Moving into the den, the turret full of West facing windows will make this room pleasant and sunny once it’s clean. A doorway to the North leads out onto a long, wood-railed balcony overlooking Saerdoun Street. The railings are heavily damaged. A second doorway leads to a similar balcony facing Westward overlooking the Alley.
A door in the south-east corner leads down a long dusty hallway to a master bedroom. Two stained glass windows in this bedroom hint at its former beauty. An old tarnished chandelier dangles precariously from the ceiling and a four-post bed sits in the south-east corner. The bed has been stripped of its linen and mattress and only a bare frame remains. A small hearth decorates the eastern wall.
The door on the south wall of the common room leads to a bare and dusty hall. A set of stairs winds up to the next floor and there is a door leading to another room.
The spare room could serve many purposes. It contains a small hearth and locked double-doors lead out to a small balcony facing the back of the manor with ornate, iron spiked railings. A few potted plants have been left out and are long-dead. You can get a good view of the East side of the Alley from here.
3rd Floor
The hall is bare and dusty, like the one below it.
Both privies could use cleaning but seem serviceable.
Two large stained-glass windows shine light into the numerous shelves in the library. A large desk sits in the center and old quills and shreds of parchment are scattered around the room. Sadly, only a few old dusty books remain on the shelves.
The North bedroom features a small reading nook in the sun-lit turret. A sturdy ladder propped against the window can be folded open and used to access a locked hatch on the ceiling, leading to the peak of the turret. A painting propped up against the wall looks like a birds eye view of the Alley. Another hearth resides on the south wall. A door on the east leads to a private bath. There is a large copper bathtub, its faucet dripping steadily.
Climbing through the hatch reveals the small turret peak. A dusty oil lantern dangles from the conical roof. A small window provides the highest westward view from the Manor, overlooking the Alley. A dozen finely made silk pillows are tossed haphazardly in the corner and there is an artist's easel set up by the window.
Though the master bedroom is quite bare, it is in good condition. Windows are intact and the four-posted canopy bed is fairly clean aside from some cobwebs. The hearth here is well intact and a large dusty mirror hangs on the north wall. The southern window provides an excellent view into the greenhouse which takes up the third floor of the building next door. A door on the east leads into a private bath with a sink and claw-footed bathtub.
4th Floor
Opening the door to the attic bedroom provokes a sudden flutter of movements and angry caws, as a family of ravens is disturbed. The three ravens quickly fly away through a hole in the roof. Black feathers flutter through the now still air. The bed here has been converted into a large raven's nest, replete with all sorts of junk and trinkets like tree branches, bones, pieces of wire and wool.
The attic storage room is cluttered with dusty decor and broken furniture. A stack of paintings sit precariously in the north-west corner. A few old mounted animal heads, such as elk and bears, lay protected under a white sheet. Old oil lamps and lanterns are scattered among the objects. Old musty bedrolls are propped against the eastern wall.
You'll need estimates from a few guilds to figure out the costs. Based on the damages you're seeing you'll want to talk to:
Current Characters: Tailine, Tiefling Rogue 2 - Zanoliv
As a group, you decide that the most urgent things to fix are the roof and the plumbing. It is early enough in the day that you have time to visit the appropriate guilds and ask for someone to make an assessment. You meet with Jiup Tiang of the Carpenter’s Roofers and Plasterer’s Guild and Barbhed Rockjaw from the Cellarer and Plumber’s Guild. They inspect the roof and pipe damage and give you a quote of 200gp to fix the roof and 80gp to fix the plumbing.
They can have everything fixed over the next tenday.
Aegis- You make your way to the book shop you noticed on the way here, Book Wyrm’s Treasure. Inside, the shop seems much bigger than it looks from the outside. Shelves filled with books fill all of the first floor, and you see a staircase winding up to a second floor that likewise seems packed with books. Behind the counter on the first floor you see a short dragonborn man with golden scales, spectacles perched on his nose. Behind the counter are locked glass cabinets willed with scrolls.
He seems a bit baffled at first by your construct nature, but your demeanor and the fact that you are an active member of The Order smooth things over. The dragonborn introduces himself as Rishaal. When you bring out Grum’shar’s spellbook, he flips through the pages.
“Hmm… you’d like scrolls in exchange for this?” He rubs his chin thoughtfully. “For the average wizard that would not be the soundest of financial exchanges- the cost of transcribing magical scrolls being what it is. However, this book contains four spells that are not currently in my repertoire, and this will widen the selection of scrolls I am able to sell.”
He thinks for a moment, “Very well- you have a deal. I already have scrolls of Shield and Unseen Servant so you can have those now. I’ll set one of my assistants to creating the other scrolls. They will be ready four days from now. Is that acceptable?”
Rishaal's Stock of Scrolls for sale
(Everyone can look and I will put this in the discord as well)
1st level (50gp) - Comprehend languages, detect magic, feather fall, find familiar, mage armor, magic missile, shield, unseen servant
From Grum’shar’s book he will now also have burning hands, disguise self, false life, and witch bolt.
2nd level (150gp) -Arcane lock, continual flame, darkvision, invisibility, magic weapon, misty step, rope trick, suggestion
3rd level (300gp) - Clairvoyance, counterspell, dispel magic, fireball, fly, nondetection, waterbreathing
4th Level (600gp) - Arcane eye, fabricate, greater invisibility, ice storm, locate creature, polymorph
5th Level (1400gp) - Bigby’s hand, cone of cold, modify memory
Current Characters: Tailine, Tiefling Rogue 2 - Zanoliv
Excellent. Standobras will help with the work as much as he can. That said, he’ll stop by the Yawning Portal before things get moving and ask Durnan for advice on how to run a tavern. He’ll also ask him if he knows of a skilled bartender that is currently unemployed. This bartender should be willing to run the tavern with minimal direction. That means that he should be a good judge of character, have good business sense, be good to his employees and, due to the particular nature of our future tavern, be fairly inventive.
Standobras-
Durnan pensively cleans his glass after talking to you for a bit about the generalities of tavern keeping.
"As for bartenders, I can think of a few people who are looking for work. You can talk to them and see who suits best." He takes out a piece of paper and writes down some names and contact information. “There’s Egos Gadilnion. He’s a bit of a wet blanket but a hard worker with plenty of experience. Also Lione Yrandhen. He’s more of the flashy type. Customers take a shine to him… I guess you’ll see why if you meet him. Young for an elf, but has a good head on his shoulders. Last person I’d recommend as a possible candidate is Tap Tap. She’s a bit… eccentric but that sounds like it might be what you’re looking for. No place she works is ever boring, that’s for sure.”
Ira-
You tag along with Standobras to the Yawning Portal and find Volo at a table reading a tome and taking notes. "Ah! Lady Ira! How delightful to see you!"
Game-
You slip away from the group and start canvasing shops in the Dock Ward. It's your first time planning something like this completely on your own, but you feel confidant you can pull it off. (We'll make your rolls at the end of downtime to see if you pull it off.)
Gaz-
Feeling hopeful about the drastic changes that have come your way, you start to put out feelers for messenger jobs around the city to earn a bit of coin. You prove to be quick on your feet and it seems like folk are willing to give you a shot. (We'll roll to see how much money you make at the end of downtime.)
Current Characters: Tailine, Tiefling Rogue 2 - Zanoliv
These are the roles for Game's adentures in attempting his own hiest of sorts. Lets see how well we do! Going for the DC 10. A struggling merchant.
Stealth - 25
Lock Picking - 12
Deception - 18
18 Acrobatics to see how well Gaz delivers.
Downtime: 19th - 30th of Ches
Standobras-
You spend your time helping around the Manor, making friendly conversation with the carpenters and plumbers while being careful not to step on their toes. You are a likeable man and while talking with them learn there is another pub that recently opened a couple blocks over called Frewn’s Brews, but the guild members have nothing good to say about the place.
“Owner was trying to save coin by fixin’ his own roof and not paying the guild. And then he went and told Guildsman Rockjaw that his beard looked like barnacles on a ship. Can tell you right now he won’t be gettin’ any business from us, that’s for sure.”
You also make a deal with the Carpenter’s guild, offering your magical healing in exchange for the cost of some of the labor.
Gaz-
You spend the tenday working as a messenger around the district. Your quickness earns you some good coin and by the last day you’ve earned 20gp
Game -
You set your sights on a different way of making coin and end up targeting a ramshackle pawn shop in the Dock Ward. With your quiet footsteps, quick hands, and guile you end up lightening the shop owners’ safe and get away with 50gp
Aegis -
You get your scrolls from Rishaal and spend the rest of your time using your magic to help fix things around the manor. Some of the stuffier guild members grumble about it a bit but The Order is it’s own guild and it’s under your purview to use mending to fix things. Overall you are able to get some work done and save the group some gold.
(Go ahead and make a Charisma check and we’ll determine how much GP worth of work you get done.)
Ira -
You spend the week studying and spending some time talking to Volo. (If there is anything specific you want to research or talk about let me know here or on discord.)
-------
During the week, all five of you gather to interview potential Bartenders. Deciding that Egos doesn’t sound like what you are looking for, you separately interview the other two recommendations from Durnan.
Lione Yrandhen is a young male elf with tan skin, blonde hair, and green eyes. Ira and anyone else familiar with how elves age judge him to be around two centuries old. He has a thin frame, but with his friendly manner and bright smile he is very charming.
Tap Tap is a female Kenku with glossy black feathers. She is small for her kind but her clawed hands are nimble. Talking to her is very interesting since, like all Kenku, she has no voice of her own and sometimes switches voices mid sentence when answering questions. She does keep a piece of charcoal and paper with her to write if she doesn’t have the proper words to say.
You can ask them questions and/or make a general insight check.
Current Characters: Tailine, Tiefling Rogue 2 - Zanoliv
General insight to see how they feel about us 13 but we have to ask them a few questions, they are going to run the show after all.
This question kindda works for both of them "So, what can you tell us about your experience tending bars and the like? Had any experience making drinks, I know it's kind of a strange practice but we think it's worth following, what do you think?"
9 Charisma
17 Insight to tell if either are any sort of dubious
Lione will reply, "I've been tending bar up and down the Sword Coast for the past few decades. I've done a bit of experimenting with adding flavored liquors to other drinks and what you have in mind sounds like something I'd like to try." He has a smooth warm voice that probably makes anyone attracted to men feel a little bit like swooning.
Tap Tap says, "I have been working in taverns for thirteen years. Done every job from scrubbing floors to handling coin." Her eyes shine a bit and she rubs her hands together, "Experiments are fun! Make drinks that look pretty and taste good." Some of her phrases are all the same voice, like someone said it out loud just for her to mimic, but other phrases are the usual hodge-podge of voices normally used by Kenku.
Gaz: They both seem genuinely interested in the concept for the kind of tavern you want to run, though Tap Tap is a bit more energetic with her enthusiasm.
Aegis: You pay close attention to the conversation, but don't get any sense of sketchiness or dishonesty from either of them.
( With that Charisma check you can shave 20gp off of your repair costs. )
Current Characters: Tailine, Tiefling Rogue 2 - Zanoliv