After greeting the new warforged adventurer, most of the party heads to sleep.

It is now morning. What is the first order of business?

"Soar, I have about 100 gold I can donate to the Manor. Nice to meet you Epee. Who's up for the barrows?" Asmodai pulls Ignis to the side and tells him about the Zhentarim. "Ignis, the Zhentarim area family, each member of the Zhentarim thinks of himself or herself as a member of a large family, and relies on the Black Network for resources and security. However, members are granted enough autonomy to pursue their own interests and gain some measure of personal power or influence. The Black Network is a meritocracy. As a whole, it promises “the best of the best."

Who is heading to the barrows besides Asmodai and I presume Soar?

Same question for the City of the Dead, I know Dwaye and Soar are interested there?

”The ’barrows’ quest sounds interesting, if I have enough time to do both quests, then I'll tag along.” Dwaye says before he begins counting in his head if he has enough time to do both, and how much gold we have so far ”Looks like we got about 700 gold in total, meaning we still need 300-800 gold before we can open our business, which is hopefully going to recoup our gold back relatively fast”

Asmodai is also interested in the City of the Dead mission.

Epee is interested in the barrows

Kuno wants to do the Barrows quest

(Kierro’s doing both)

"Thank you for the potion and gold, professor. Here, Soar, 100 GP to the Manor funds." Erik say before heading back to the Yawn.

Erik is interested in the Necropolis (City of the Dead) quest. Unless you guys solve it in 24 hours lol.

Soar woke up at the manor, after having a mostly restful night in her slowly-renovating bedroom. She watched the sun rise from the turret and came downstairs to chat with Lif as she ate some bread, cheese, and jam scrounged from the Yawning Portal the night before. She updated him on her recent adventures and plans for the manor, and some of the new people they had met.

She took her leave and back at the Yawning Portal, she of course wants to do both quests. She adds to those assembled that there are others who likely want to contribute some of their earnings who haven't weighed in yet so they likely have more in the Trollskull's kitty.

She also suggests that even though the deed is only in the first few of them who had rescued Floon, she could talk to the others about promising applications from prospective owners of the manor, perhaps buying in with initial operating funds or particularly needed services.

Ripi will toss Soar 100 gold "Oi heres what i got on me for the manor, but if theres anyone else i'd be real interested in helping out these guild members." Ripi will say as he looks for Jalester Silvermane

(Lets make the City of the Dead the slow quest to accommodate Xunsilver; you guys can head out there and look around in parallel with the barrows expedition, similar to what we did with the previous pair of quests.)

- - -

Following Ol' Tooley's instructions, Kierro, Kuno, Epee, Dwaye, Asmodai and Soar leave the city gates and travel into the countryside. Just as he had described it, there is a mound far out from civilization. On top of the mound is a small, old and seemingly abandoned shrine, and there is a masonry well with stone footholds leading down below into the barrow. An old dying oak is also there.

- - -

Ripi finds Jalester Silvermane drowning his troubles in the main hall of Yawning Portal; how will you get his attention?

Asmodai will go and look down the tunnel. How far does it go down?

It is dark; or would be if Asmodai didn't have darkvision. It looks like it goes down some thirty, fourty feet before ending at a dirt floor.

So it seems we have:

200-250 from Dwaye
200 from Ignis
150 from Soar
100 from Ripi
100 from Erik
100 from Asmodai

850-900 thus far, and perhaps more from others who haven't weighed in yet.

---

Soar, after they get to the mound, smiles and sighs. "So we're meant to stop whatever barbarian king who's not laid to rest from bothering people? Let's check out that mausoleum first, right?

Soar checks out the small shrine, the inside glows with a pale red light. Maybe it isn't as abandoned as you thought?

Moving inside, you hear a "SKREEEEE!"; it seems that a giant fire beetle has made this abandoned shrine it's nest!

It doesn't seem hostile, just yet, but definitely doesn't want you coming any closer.

Ignis leaves a letter at Trollskull Manor, saying he is going off on a journey to try and deal with his insanity, and join the Zhentarim as well.

If Soar says anything about the Fire Beetle, Asmodai will go over and shoot it.

Attack w/Advantage because it hasn't seen Asmodai yet: 22

Damage: 7 piercing | Sneak Attack Damage: 1

"I wouldn't shoot it if I were you, it's looking mighty upset right now, and that could set it off." An unnamed human says as they walk up behind the group. "The name's Kiric. Kiric Durosin. I believe some of you have met my father, Anivar before."

Kiric interrupts Asmodai's shot.