Well, that's going to be expensive. How much income would we be able to get from the place when its running and after all the cost? 

Briga notifies her comrades of the outstanding bounty regarding the thief.  "This could be a way to get some of the upfront coin we'll need to get this place running.  I'll gladly put the bounty back into our new business.  Maybe we could tackle this one as a team?"

"The Black Viper.  Now that is a cool handle.  A real nemesis for the Abandoned Dragons.  We have made enemies quickly, we're going to be lousy with nemesis at this rate.  Nemesi? Nemesises?"  

"Sounds good to me. Let's gear up."

[OOC: DM, I have taken 7 gp off my character sheet for the house repair supplies. I have also removed a silver for a tenday's worth of stabling for the mule. Thanks.]

After working out just how much it costs to run a tavern, Tyrus is now definitely interested in getting involved in Briga's attempt to track down the Black Viper, after he is sure that the whole manor is as secure (5 days, wasn't it?).

"Where do we start?" he asks Briga. "Ye be the expert in this."

"But, if this Black Viper be a thief. Do ye know if he's part of Xanathar's guild? We're already in their bad books."

"Perhaps we can ask one of our local authority friends, I'm sure they would be pleased that someone is going after him and may already know some things about them."

"I'm not be understanding this," says Tyrus. "Are we supposed to capture this Viper, or just find out who he is? And has this bounty been placed on him by the city or by someone private?"

OOC: Briga will relate what she knows regarding the bounty - who put up the bounty, if it is just for identification, capture, or dead or alive, etc., if she has that information.  

"Well, see, there's a lot of ins and outs with bounty hunting work here in Waterdeep..."

Right now it's for identification and capture.  That's all the information you have right now. 

[OOC: And the city is going to pay the bounty, right? The original message just said 'someone'. Working for the city gives us greater protection than finding and kidnapping someone for a private party.]

(OOC: I have taken the 60GP for the character to get the new staff settled in and to get things started. )

"Let's get a better idea of that bounty then go after it. If nothing else it'll get the scum off the street. And money in our pocket." Arlon says grinning. 

[OOC: It's being advertised at a courthouse, so approved by the city. That doesn't mean it is the city that is hiring you ;)]

"Sure, if we can manage to identify and catch the thief.  Maybe we should start by talking to the city watch, see who's reported thefts they think the Black Viper is responsible for, talk to the people who reported them, and go from there?  With you guys along, we might be able to persuade people to be more cooperative," Briga says.  "I'm decent at shadowing a suspect and getting into wherever they've holed up, but I think you guys would be able to help a lot in finding our suspect.  Maybe there's a pattern you we can figure out or something like that."  

"I be thinking that this Viper stole something particular and the owner wants it back," says Tyrus. "Stolen goods don't always make it back to their original owners in this city—remember them silver ingots."

Then after a moment's more thought, he adds, "Can we find out who has placed the bounty? Knowing who, and perhaps why, might give us a lead on how to find the thief."

"Let's start with the city watch, then," Briga responds to Tyrus.  "They likely know who placed the bounty.  Hopefully they'll give us that information without too much of a hassle.  If they don't, someone at the courthouse should know."  

Briga plans to head to the city watch outpost nearest to the courthouse where she saw the posting of the bounty, along with her allies. 

Tyrus would like to accompany Briga to the city watch outpost, but before he does this he would like to talk to the halflings that Arlon has hired. He would like to take one of the male halflings to the stables and introduce him to both Wilberforce and the owner/caretaker of the stable.

If those introductions go okay, he will instruct the owner of the stables that it is okay for this person to come and take Wilberforce out of the stables when necessary. He will also tell the halfling [OOC: DM, Can we get some names please.] that he should feel free to use Wilberforce anytime there is a need to move large or heavy loads, as long as he treats the animal with care and respect.

And then, off to the city watch with Briga.

"You reckon we all should go?" 

In response to Griffdar's question Tyrus says, "I reckon so. I be thinking that, if ye going to be bounty hunting, it be making sense to be known by the guard for doing such work."

He then turns to Briga for confirmation. "Is that the right of it, Briga?"

“Arlon! Gear up my boy! We got work!”

Arlon is ready to go. He stands here ready to follow the lead. 

" The Watch then? Should we go see our friend from the other night? Pay him and his pals a few drinks to make friends ?" 

"Aye, we should be going to the watch to make ourselves and our intentions known to them," says Tyrus, "but I'd be thinking the courthouse would be the best place to find out about the bounty? That's where they be posted afterall."

Then he turns to Briga, and says, "But, as a registered bounty hunter, ye would know best, young lassie, so lead the way."