Ahhh yes. You had Finley in quite the tizzy. He says this with a smile, and shakes the offered hand. He's about average size for a halfling, with large auburn mutton chops and bushy eyebrows. Broxley Fairkettle's the name. Fellowship of Innkeepers. Well, come in, come in. No use standing around outside. I'll put us on some tea. He opens the door, allowing you all to follow him in. It's a small, but cozy office space with a tiny office to one side, and a large gathering area in the common room with plush couches that looks to be where business is done. Broxley busies himself with the tea, talking loudly from the little kitchenette. Go on, have a seat. Won't be but a minute. Glad to see the old manor's been taken over again, rather thought the place was haunted, myself. Do hope you'll join the guild, it'll help avoid...ah...further harassment.

He finishes up with the tea, and brings a large plate of scones out with it, pouring everyone a steaming cupful. So, down to business. You'll be wanting the works, I suppose?

"Sounds about right." Valen allows as he bites into a scone.

"Many thanks, Mr. Fairkettle." Mal'thrae says, entering the office and having a seat. "And yes, we'll definitely be taking the works."

"A yes to joining the guild, as well." He adds, noting the experience they had with Finley. "You say the manor's haunted? Do tell."

Auric:

"As long as the works includes plenty of ale and meat, that sounds good.  Do we all have to join this fellowship, or just one of us?" asks the dragonborn.

Broxley, please, he says as he settles in. He gives Auric a sizing up. I suppose one of you will do. Just, ah, please follow guild rules. I'm already a father of nine...your continued compliance would make my rather difficult life just a bitty bit easier.

Now, we'll need to contact Hammond for the drinks, Justyn for the meat...if you're wanting the works, I'll have Ulkoria stop by as well. She offers magical protection for the place. Hmm...yes. I'll have everyone stop by within the day. Have you placed an ad for servers? Bartender?

And no story, really...just the usual "weird happenings and sounds" from the old, abandoned house. Probably nothing.

“Glad for the help, Broxley. No ads yet, we should get on top of that. Auric, Valen, Urukar, any of you want to be the one who joins the guild, or should I?”

Auric:

”I am happy for you to be our representative in the guild, Mal’thrae,” says Auric, envisioning boring guild meetings and mountains of paperwork, “especially because you are already handling the funds we invested.”

Valen just grunts, clearly not guild material himself.

"Alrighty then." He grins and leans back. "I'll do the guild stuff. How much is it to join and be a member of the guild, Broxley?"

Urukar sits heavily on one of the couches as it creaks slightly under his weight.  "Why do we need 'magical protection', halfling?"

Let's see....he takes out a piece of parchment and begins scratching away with a quill. It'll be 250 dragons up front. This covers the cost of membership, and getting an ad placed for you for staffing purposes. It'll also cover the initial visits from the other guilds. It'll be 10 gold every tenday after that for guild fees. But I'm sure once word gets around, you'll find that easy to cover. Have you put any money into marketing?

He turns to Urukar. Same reason you put locks on the doors, orc. Ulkoria will place warding glyphs around if you'd like them. Helps keep the place safe against any unsavory sorts.

Valen nods at the discussion of wards.  "Wards are always good..." He is thinking of the enemy that has been seeking him since as long as he can recall.  Wards would be a nice added level of protection there he thinks.  "How much do those tend to run though?"

"250... lets see... there we go." Mal'thrae hands him a pouch with the needed funds from the party's gold pool.

"We've only received the manor a few days ago; marketing wasn't at the top of our minds. We'll get right to it, Broxley."

Broxley accepts the gold. No worries, no worries. 300 gold, I believe. He finishes making a few markings on his sheet, and looks up, smiling. Well, I believe that does it. You should have supplies for your larder and some offerings for drink by the end of the day. 

Auric:

"This tavern is all well and good, but I crave glorious adventure," says Auric on the way out of the guild hall.  "I'll stop by the Portal and see if there are any heroic deeds that need doing, then catch up to the rest of you at Trollskull," he continues, preparing to take the detour but waiting for a reaction from his companions in case they have another idea.

"Many thanks, Broxley." Mal'thrae says, getting up.

"Sounds like a plan. See you back at the manor." he says to Auric, before heading to trollskull.

"Hmph, and there was me hoping we might get a keg or two to take back with us..."  Urukar grumbles to himself, apparently expecting to come away from this visit with actual food and drink.  He nods to Auric, "If another troll or something pops out the well, make sure you come get me."

Auric:

Nodding to the others, Auric spurs his mount and accelerates towards the Yawning Portal, eager to go inside, look for leads on adventuring jobs, and get some filling comfort food to take back to the manor for his hungry companions.

Rayner:" Folks, all this guild talk made me hungry and thirsty! To the Yawning Portal!"

 Auric:

The journey to the Yawning Portal seems to be taking a long time again.  Auric attempts to spur is mount into faster movement...