"Yeah, I think they spoiled their own plan with they snatched Floon and missed Renear hiding in the closet.  It might have spoiled a Zhentarim plan, too, since they were originally held up that Zhentarim headquarters.  Hmm.  Whew, complicated, this one.  A lot of twists and turns.  Oh well," Briga says.  "Maybe we'll get some more work out of it before it's over, you're right. And likely more trouble, too." 

"That's them!" exclaims Tyrus. "I couldn't remember their name. I be thinking that if Lord Renear approaches that mercenary group, he'll be getting a good hearing, seeing as they're already enemies of the thieves. What do they say: 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend'."

Then he adds, "Or... Maybe we should approach them and get some sort of finder's fee for finding them a potential customer. Do they do that here in Waterdeep?"

"I dunno, he might not like the Zhents or the Xanathar.  Didn't some Zhents kidnap him and Floon in the first place, and then the Xanathar attacked the Zhentarim and took him while Reanar hid in the closet?  I like your thinking with the enemy of my enemy angle, Tyrus, but I think it's more like how my folks used to describe things for the Auril worship splinter of the Bear tribe - 'everyone is our enemy, and friends are for the weak.'  Man, they were real downers. I do not miss that glacier, or the cold a-holes who raised me near it," Briga says.

"Personal junk aside, while the young master Neverember might want to stay a mile away from both the Xanathar guild and the Zhentarim, there's no reason why we can't play them off of each other.  We're just the plucky do gooders who got in the middle, after all.  Also, we didn't kill any Zhentarim that I know of.  That was all the Xannies.  Xannies and Zhents? This is going to get confusing."  

“Maybe Renaer can point is in the right direction. He seems like a good man.”

"Yeah, he seems like a decent guy, he hasn't totally gone bad with the privilege of noble birth," Briga agrees.  "Come to think of it, Renaer did say the Zhentarim thugs jumped him and Floon and took them both, then the Xanathar attacked the Zhentarim and just took Floon.  I assumed that both gangs were just after Renaer because of who he is - someone with the Neverember name, maybe to hold him for ransom.  That half orc wizard or sorcerer or whatever, the one in the room with the octoface dude, he was torturing Floon.  Could just be sadists being sadists, but if they were just going to ransom him thinking he was a Neverember, torture doesn't make financial sense, y'know?  Maybe they thought he knew something?  We probably should talk to Renear at some point, see what he else he knows."

"In the meantime, I'll pick a room as well, Griff already called his.  We can make sure we've checked out this manor fully, cleared out any squatters and such, maybe get it going to generate some revenue to get us some operating funds, or at least break even on taxes, and then see if where this rabbit hole leads?"

While talking, if possible, Briga will thoroughly search their newly acquired manor.  

OOC: Let me know if a roll is needed.

[OOC: I'm confused. Aren't we standing outside the Magistrate's Office with Volo waiting to get the deed signed over to us?]

Tyrus whacks the side of his head and says, "Sure and ye're right, Briga. I'd forgotten that Lord Neverember said the original kidnappers took both him and Master Volo's friend, but is he sure they were Zhentarim mercenaries? And, if they were mercenaries, who paid them to do the job?"

After a moment's thought, Tyrus then says, "This is all starting to sound political to me, and perhaps something we should steer clear of."

Then he changes the subject. "Anyway, now that we're all here, let's do this bit of business. We shouldn't keep Master Volo standing around all day."

OOC: Oh, I think you're right, I was confused as to where the scene still was.

(ooc: yeah i'm dumb too lol)

"Too right, Tyrus.  This looks political, and that means it could get nasty for us," Briga says.  "In the short time I've done work as a bounty hunter for the city, I can tell ya that once politics gets involved, it's messy.  You're not just worried about right and wrong, you're some game piece in the agenda of a bunch of rich and powerful people, wanna be masked lords of Waterdeep or maybe even actual masked lords.  If we're getting tangled up in that kind of a knot, I'm glad I made some bright and charismatic friends in you guys, to help deal with this stuff if its gets convoluted and messy.  When I get frustrated and lose my patience I tend to just cut through the knots, if you get my meaning."  

Arlon seems a bit bewildered by all this. 

"Not sure we want to make friends with the Zent's. They don't have a good reputation. And yes we will have to get a thorough look at the mansion .. And get it running. Anyone knows how to run a business ?" 

He turns to Biga with a smile. 

"Friends we are, but don't sell yourself short I like the way you do diplomacy some of the time." He looks pointedly at the large weapon she has. "

OOC: Very sorry for the long absence. Things are getting back to normal for me. Had a lot to read. Yeah! level 2. 

(ooc: level 2! level 2! level 2! -- but seriously glad to have you back, no worries about taking care of yourself/irl stuff, its important!)

OOC: Welcome back! Hope all is OK IRL.  

Quote from Izraal >>

OOC: Welcome back! Hope all is OK IRL.  

 Getting there. But well enough to play. 

[OOC: Glad to have you back Gamorust. Hope everything IRL works out well.]

Tyrus looks around at his companions and then says, "I'm only young for a dwarf, but I've seen enough winters to know there be some rocks better left undisturbed, which I'm happy to do with this one."

Then he turns and indicates the door to the Magistrate's Office and says, "Shall we?"

Tyrus will follow the others in after he finds a guard to keep an eye on his mule, which is packed with a lot of his belongings.

[OOC: Busy couple of days ahead for me, so I may not be too active for a while.

DM, Tyrus will sign the deed as himself, and will take up residence in whichever room with a fireplace is still available in one of the residential floors of the manor. He will leave his mule in the nearest public stable (Please let me know the cost per day), but will take all his equipment with him to the manor.]

"Yes, let's become homeowners. HA!"

Briga enters, keeping some professional poise and only muttering briefly under her breath that, "This is going to be boring. Paperwork."

“They say the quill is mightier than the sword. I’m just glad I have a master of both!”

griff clasps his big Dragonborn hands on the backs of Briga and Tyrus. “Come along Arlon Let’s get this show rolling!”

Arlon will follow. He knows that this is a really good opportunity for him. 

You all step into the courthouse, where a clerk sits behind a desk.  "Don't worry, I'll do the talking - but if you feel you have something to say, by all means, ask away," Volo says and steps up to the clerk's desk.  

"Greetings, my dear.  I have a meeting with the magistrate, justice Silmerhelve, Volothamp Geddarm, though I'm sure you knew that" he says with a smile and a bow.  The clerk simply nods and whispers something, probably informing the magistrate about the appointment, and continues her paperwork.  "The Justice will be out momentarily," she says with no real enthusiasm of her job. 

A few minutes go by before the clerk announces that the magistrate is ready to see you and directs you to the relevant office.

"For those that are new to the city, just follow my lead," he says with a warmth of reassurance.  "I'm sure the locals of you will be fine," he added for the rest of the group.