Ellena's conflicting emotions are calmed by her friend's declarations of support for her new career, rising to give each of you a big hug, murmuring to Mitchell as she does so "I love you too, Ser Cloudkeep"
She then sits back down and grinning from ear to ear, enjoys the breakfast, declaring her intent to do just as you've suggested, playing in the new establishment and singing of your achievements.
She then takes up time chatting with Volo about the best places in town to perform, get musical instruments made, get additional musical education.
Her happiness and excitement serves to ease some of the pain of her departure from your company.
Himo enjoys the vibrant company of Ellena. It may be some time before their paths cross again!
The rest of the morning they get to spend together is spent by Talliree joking with and teasing her friends.
"So, are we ready to go see this house and tavern of ours," she asks once breakfast is done.
"Aye! We should get a look eyeful of the place. Property is property but I'd prefer to know what we have to work with."
"We need to measure the rooms, I'm going to need some sturdy book cases!"
"Wizards," Talliree chuckles as she shakes her head, recalling the first time she'd met Hob.
Volo laughs, pops one last sausage into his mouth, then declares, "Ah, impatient to see your new property! Then come, let us go dispose of the
legalities!"
He stands and the waits downstairs as everyone fetches their belongings. Nara is with him, "Thanks so much again. You are all most welcome
to return...as paying customers of course!" she laughs, then runs back to the kitchen.
Volo says , "Come, come...it's almost highsun and we have to get over to Castle Ward."
And so the group hurries through the streets, Volo and Renaer both calling out or returning greetings, occasionally someone would shout out if 'those
were the heroes that saved Floon'. With a laugh, they both vigourously called back the affirmative.
Eventually, Volo huffing and puffing pulls up in front of an imposing courthouse, "Here, <gasp> we <gasp> are..." he manages to say, before
ushering everyone inside.
There in a side room, a serious faced tiefling, introduced as Magistrate Kylynne Silmerhelve, waits impatiently. Looking briefly at the light streaming in the narrow windows, she
comments drily, "You're late."
Volo waves away her complaint with one hand, and presents the deed to Trollskull Manor to her with the other.
She stares at him for a moment, then takes the deed over to a nearby table , and indicates the inkwell and quill, "Sign or make your mark."
she says simply. Volo steps up and signs floridly, then steps aside for the others to take their turn.
After all, including Tania and Ellena , have signed, the Magistrate examines the document , then slams a stamp down upon it, certifying the transfer of
ownership. She holds the deed out to the group , waiting for someone to take it....as impatient as she was when you arrived.
Mitchell takes a moment to carefully read the document before putting his signature to it, then rolls up the document, and places it in his pack. "I'll make sure this is kept somewhere for safekeeping".
Talliree's exuberance is tempered, slightly, by having to sign the document with the impatient magistrate hovering over her. Her signature has easily taken the longest, and is by far the messiest, out of anyones.
Still, she can't help but feel excited as she sees that she has a home now. At least until she remembers that two of their number will be leaving them. That does quite the job snuffing out the happiness she is feeling.
Enough of that! Keep smiling and laughing! You're going to bring down everyone's mood if you keep this up.
Hob looks over the document and finding nothing that seems out of place- at least that he notices simply nods and signs.
Himo reads the document, trying to work out if anything is amiss.
Reasonably satisfied that he hasn't stumbled across anything obviously terrible, Himo swiftly writes a complex signature with odd flourishes.
Hard to forge, that's the ticket.
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The Magistrate, seemingly satisfied that all of the legal proprieties have been met, nods to Volo and declares, "This matter has been dealt with, please leave I have other matters to attend to."
Volo ushers everyone out onto the court steps, "Ah, Kylynne is a wonder woman, takes her responsiblites very seriously!" he exclaims, rubbing his hands,
obviously very excited.
"Come , come and see your new domicile!" he shouts, leading the way through the city to North Ward.
As he does, as usual , he fills the group in on tidbits of gossip and history about various landmarks along the way.
Then he sets off again , before again stopping at the mouth a wide alley, townsfolk and tradesmen both travelling to and fro, "May I present...Trollskull Alley! Come I will show you points of interest..."
Here's a map of Trollskull Alley for reference...
He walks into the alley ,calling out hello to a couple of people walking by, a running commentary on the local points of interest, "Straigh ahead there, is the
Bent Nail, run by Tally Fellbranch, all things wood can be had there! (T2 on the map) Across the way it an old Cloister devoted to the Old God...abandoned for many year now (T9 on the map)."
Volo ambled down along in the bright, winter sunshine, stopping a moment pointing at the ground, murmuring sotto voce "Sewer entrance..." (T7 on the Map)
Turning the corner, he points to the left, "That's Steam and Steel, (T3 on the Map) metal goods, armor , weapons! Ah, there's Embric!" he exclaims, waving at a genasi who appeared at the door, who also waves back with a smile before disappearing inside, "He owns the place with his husband, Avi! Beautiful people!"
Again, a few building further he points out a stately, three-story town house (T4 on the map), the third floor you can see has been converted into a greenhouse, a rainbow of flowers blooming inside on this winters day, "That is Corellon's Crown, apothecary and physician owned by a wonderful elf , by the name of Fala!"
He reaches an intersection, and waves to the north, "The 'Manor's just there, but I have a few other notables to show you first..."
Pointing to the right, he reveals unremarkable buidling, with an orange and black sign featuring cat's eyes, "Interesting fellow there, Vincent Trench, spends his time investigating lost people and things...very interesting...calls the business Tiger's Eye" (T5 on the Map)
Then reaching the end of the Alley proper, he points at building to the North, "Book Wyrm's Treasure, ( T6 on the Map ) run by Rishall...all sorts of interesting books and folios inside. He's a mage , of course!"
He then turns to head back, but scowls at a tavern on south side, "That's Frewn's Brews, the competition if you re-open the tap room. Run by a dour fellow called Emmek Frewn, tried to buy the Trollskull himself...but I outbid him!!" Volo laughs, then turns back to walk towards the Manor.
Then he stops in the middle of the street, tapping himself on the head, looking at the Manor then back at the group, "Oh, yes, I almost forgot. There's supposedly a poltergeist living - eh, I mean 'residing' - in Trollskull Manor's taproom. As far as I've been able to gather, it's a former bartender, a half-elf named Lif. Half the reason I bought the place, really. You see, I'm writing a book on such spirits... Ah, well, that's neither here nor there. From what I've heard, Lif is quite possessive - no pun intended - but not malicious. Seems like he just misses his old job, is what I've been told. Perhaps fixing up the place is enough to get on his good side."
He then offers one of you the key, and swings his arm ahead as if to say, "After you...."
"I think I'm startin' t'get why all of th'people y'know an' ask help form seem a li'l miffed t'see ya," Talliree says after she hears him explain that the manor is haunted, or something like that. She takes the key and can't help but smile. If nothing else, this should make for a great story.
"If y'all are ready, I guess it's time t'see what our new house is like," she says as she gets ready to unlock the door.
Himo takes in the sights of Trollskull Alley, making mental notes about in what order he's going to check everything out.
Then he claps eyes on the property.
"Oh boy. This is going to take some work. Still, it's ours, so let's go in and take a look. Mitchell, a little quieter eh?"
Himo taps Mitchell on the man's armoured shoulder.
Mitchell frowns as he takes in the condition of their new property. He mumbles to himself, as he starts to look around the property.
"Might be cheaper to just burn it to the ground, and sell the land or start over".
"Well let's go inside and see if things are better or worse".
Mitchell nods at Talliree as she heads for the door following close on her heels.
With all the encouragement she needs, she unlocks the door and opens it up.
"Welcome, to Chah-toe Yndercook," she jokes as she gestures the others inside with a sweeping bow.
Talliree is a bit surprised to find that the lock is fairly new, the key slips inside smoothly and turn with only a little resistance.
The door however, squeals magnificently....the whole Alley must have heard it.
The door opens up onto what appears to be the Manor' taproom, currently empty except for a large pile of tables and chairs in the middle of the room.
Dust and cobwebs adorn every surface, some of the dust reveals the telltale tracks of rats.
Volo and Renaer follow you in, Renaer whistling lowly, "Volo...Volo, how much is this going to cost them to fix up?"
Volo shrugs, "Maybe 1000-1200 dragons...not too much"
Renaer smiles indugently at his friend, and turns to Talliree, "Do you have 1000-1200 dragons?"
It's at that moment when one of the chairs suddenly falls over with a bang.
The sound reverberates through the empty room, Volo claps his hands, "Ah, our poltergeist! Exciting!"
-----
Maps of the Manor
Talliree feels her eye twitch when twitch when the cost of fixing this comes up. Over a thousand dragons?! That was way more than she'd stolen from the Crimson Breakers when she ducked out on them. She could have decked Volo right then and there, but she takes a deep breath instead and smiles.
"Nope!"
The single word comes out like a chiming glass bell as she sweeps up beside Volo and wraps an arm around him and pulls him in close.
"But I'm sure our friend Volo here will be more than happy to give us a share of his profits from the new book he's writing since we're about to help him get lots of first hand experience with ghosts of all kinds," she says sweetly as her free hand sneaks behind his arms and finds a place on his ribs to pinch.
"Isn't. That. Right. Mr. Volo," she growls as she gives him the pinch of his life.
Mitchell steps into the musky room frowning.
"Well it definitely needs a lot of work, still the location is good. Perhaps we should hire an expert to make sure it has sound bones. If so I might approach the church to see if any loans can be incurred with the property as a guarantee... if that meets your approval".
The man then takes out a roll of paper and begins to step out the distances of the rooms, making sketches of the room size as he goes. It is a different MItchell than what you are used to seeing.
"There seem to be some crates in the basement. Should we inventory what is there? And the question of the hour... Are we planning on living here and running the tavern, or renting these rooms out to the public. I for one need somewhere to live in the City".
He then rubs his finger through the thick dust on the bar.
"At least while we're rennovating".
Talliree's pinch evokes a most satisfying squeak from the gregarious writer, as he jumps away from the half-elf, a hurt look on his face as he vigorously rubs his side, "That was most uncalled for, Ms Yndercook!" he exclaims.
Renaer, laughing at his friend, "You deserved that you reprobate! I didn't realize how run down this place was!"
At Renaer's statement, another chair clatters from the pile. Renaer calls out to the room, "Sorry, but it's true!"
He turns back to Volo and the others, nodding to Mitchell, "The Church of..." he looks to see Mitchell's holy symbol, "Ah... Waukeen...good businessmen as well as clergy. They might, even though you're a member, stiff you on interest. Volo and I have a friend, who should on our recommendation, front you the money at a very reasonable rate."
Himo looks about him, trying to seek out any hidden surprises. Like doors - or traps.
"That is a great deal of dragons, Mr. Volo. Who might this friend be?"
Satisfied that he got her point, Talliree grins at Volo as she steps back.
"You have a wise friend, Volo. You should listen to him," she says throwing a wink Renear's way.
"Well, since we're here, maybe we can talk to Mr. Invisible. See if he has any thoughts on fixing the place up," she says as she turns and walks over to where the last chair had fallen.
Mr. Whiskers, however, isn't having it and jumps from Talliree's shoulder to Volo's before she gets too far.
"Excuse me, Mr. Ghost? Can we talk with you about this place? We'd like to fix it up, even if it's going to cost us a lot of money, and we wanted to hear what you thought of that," she asks the ghost she's hoping is around. Her voice is sweet, kind, and somewhat at odds with the large sword strapped to her back.
Mr. Whiskers begins to nibble on Volo's collar as he watches on nervously.
Renaer answers Himo, "His name is Mirt. He goes by the moniker 'the moneylender', for obvious reasons. He was an adventurer some time back, made his fortune and retired here to Waterdeep. He's an honest man as I said doesn't gouge. "
Volo, still rubbing his side, ventures a little closer to Talliree, taking a moment to say "Hello" to Mr Whiskers, "It can't talk, Miss Yndercook." he says, just as one of the few upright chairs slides across the floor to sit near Talliree. Then, the dust covering the seat is wiped away by a few swipes of an invisible hand. The chair then moves slightly, as if someone were holding it for Talliree to sit upon.
Hob excitedly darts around looking in doors. "We should see if there are hidden panels or even passages."
Floorboards creak under his feet as he descends the stairs "We should live here once it's fixed up a little. The bar is going to be great. I think I'd like something in the attic. Maybe someday I can expand with some extra dimensional space augmenting it."
"I need to come up with some ghost puns in case they are nice. It's all in the branding, this is going to be great."
"Oh," Talliree says, not used to being treated like a lady. "Um? thank you," she says to the unseen spirit before sitting in the chair.
"He seems able to talk just fine to me," she says, looking up at Volo with a beatific smile. "And maybe he doesn't have to talk. He could write or we could play a game of charades. He may just want some company that appreciates him for more than what he'll do for someone's next book. The book that we're splitting the profits on since we're helping you. He seems like a friendly fellow when you give him some res... pect."
"Um," she turns to where she imagined the ghost would be, her brow knitted in a concerned frown, "Mr. Ghost, are you a mister or a miss, or a misses," she asks, hoping she wasn't being too rude in asking. It is devilishly hard to tell someone's sex when they are invisible and make no sound.
Volo steps a bit closer, "If you remember, Miss Yndercook, I think it's the old pub room's bartender, Lif... a mister, indeed."
Talliree is sure she hears a tap..tap nearby, as if the ghost was confirming Volo's statement.
"Yes, but I didn't want to assume. It could be another ghost come to keep Mr. Lif company," She replies before turning to the tapping and putting on a bright smile.
"Hello, Mr. Lif. I'm Talliree! It's nice to meet ya! Do you mind us moving in? We didn't know you were here when we agreed to take this place as a reward for saving Renear. He's the smart one over there with Mr. Volo," she begins introducing everyone.
As Talliree introduces each of you , a chair is either righted or plucked from the pile and slid over to stop just behind the knees...all except Volo.
Standing there, blinking, he gathers what's left of his dignity and declares, "Well, I must be off. I'll check in from time to time to see how the improvements are coming along. Ta Ta!"
After the writer storms out, Renear sits on his chair laughing, "That was well done, Ser Ghost!" he barks, clutching his sides.
Still chuckling , he continues, "Now then, should I arrange a meeting between youselves and Mirt?"
"Cheers, barkeep! Aye, Renear, please do. I've heard of Mirt. His reputation is a good one."
"Bye Mr. Volo! Have fun writing your book" Talliree says as Volo leaves. Mr. Whiskers waves bye back as he rides on Volo's shoulder. Seeing that, Talliree's smile falls into a sad expression as she settles back in the chair.
"Bye Mr. Whiskers. Hope you have fun," she mutters to herself. She looks down at her hands propped on her knees as the others talk, not really paying much attention now.
"I am suspecting he might have been invasive during his previous visits and upset the current occupant." Hob shakes his head.
MItchell missed most of the ghostly activity as he was heading down to the basement to check out what was down there. He hears the low mumbles of conversation from above, and the scraping of chairs on hardwood above, and continues to explore.
"I guess we should at least see what we can do as far as fixing this place up. Maybe we could also get some bounties to help out?"
The front door bangs on Volo's departure, but a few moments pass until it opens slightly and Mr Whiskers scurries back in .
He make a bee-line for Talliree, until he stops in the middle of the room, sits on his haunches and sniffs the air, little nose wiggling about, whiskers a-twirl.
His head the moves slightly, as if an invisible hand just gently patted Mr Whiskers.
Seemingly satisfied, Mr Whiskers runs up Talliree's leg then climbs up to perch on her shoulder, whispering in her ear.
Renaer catches the last thing Talliree says, and smiles, "I daresay , you might be sought out for some 'bounties' as you say. You've done enough in the last day or so to get noticed. By whom? Well, let's say there are a number of organizations at work within Waterdeep, with varying objectives. Some may indeed send word that they'd appreciate your help with this or that...your choice of course to participate, you may have your hands full here."
The he claps his hands, "I'll be off as well. I'll try to arrange a meet up with Mirt for the morrow!"
Hob sits up "We should try to get hired for some mercenary work to clear out a dungeon or a den of bandits... if we bring a wagon we can bring back the furniture and things we normally leave behind."
Mitchell returns from the cellar dusting himself off as he comes back into the main room in time to hear the end of the conversation.
"Perhaps this Mirt is the way to go. The church funds would be more stable, but the evaluation process can take months, and if we're too profitable the agreements sometimes change".
He stops to sneeze at the dust from below.
"There is a bunch of junk below, though a couple of the casks might be worth saving. We'll have to inventory whats usable, and trash whatever is not. It might also be wise to have a barrister or someone look into the history of this place including who has owned it in the past".
The terribly upright and sometimes boring man then walks to a window, taking a cloth from his pouch, and rubbing a large enough hole in the grime to peer out into the streets.
"If we're planning on living here while we run the tavern, I'd like to share the attic room with someone. Always liked being up high".
"Attic sounds good. I volunteer."
"As for the junk, we can take it out with said cart. I like Hob's thinking. Loot decent furniture from a dungeon and it'll give an adventerous air to the place too."
"Aw, I missed you too, buddy," Talliree giggles as Mr. Whiskers tickles her ear with his eponymous whiskers. "Well, if we're picking rooms, wouldn't it be more fair to let everyone see the rooms and then pick? I mean, some of us were being friendly with the guy who was here first! Oh, that reminds me!"
Talliree hops up and moves to Mitchell's pack and begins looking for his journal and pencil Mr. Whiskers hops down and helps look.
"Lif, Knock once for yes, twice for no. Can you write," Talliree asks the ghost as she and her pet mouse rifle through the Waukeenite's things.
Hob puts his hands up "Sometimes I feel like ye only ever half listen to me... fine you can deal with the ninjas in the assassins when the come through the attic!"
"Have we ever met a bunch of bandits whose style we liked," Talliree asks as she waits for Lif's answer to her question.
"Or is this more about the being inv– evas-? invasio-? the sneaky, breaky, entery thingy! Was it about that?"
"Breaking and entering?", adds Himo, with the cheeky grin of a man well used to saying those words.
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"Yeah! That!" Talliree grins and gives Himo a thankful nod. It seems that she's feeling better now, being more of her cheerful self.
"Aw, I missed you too, buddy," Talliree giggles as Mr. Whiskers tickles her ear with his eponymous whiskers. "Well, if we're picking rooms, wouldn't it be more fair to let everyone see the rooms and then pick? I mean, some of us were being friendly with the guy who was here first! Oh, that reminds me!"
Talliree hops up and moves to Mitchell's pack and begins looking for his journal and pencil Mr. Whiskers hops down and helps look.
"Lif, Knock once for yes, twice for no. Can you write," Talliree asks the ghost as she and her pet mouse rifle through the Waukeenite's things.
Unfortunately , all Talliree gets is a confusing three knocks on the floor next to her chair.
As discussions on procuring new furniture progresses, there's a gentle knock on the door frame, and it is pushed open by a wood elf, with long braided hair.
"Hi, I'm Fala, I own the apothecary around the corner! Saw you walking by with Volo and thought I'd introduce myself."
You notice that she's carrying a wooden sign in one hand that says "Duskwood Paper = Murder!
Himo turns around to face the newcomer:
"Why hello there, Fala. I am Himo Liadon. Are you acquainted with Volo then?"
Hearing the knocks Talliree perks up, then looks confusedly at the spot on the floor she'd heard the knocks from. "Is that a maybe?"
Hearing Fala introduce herself, Talliree turns around in her chair to kneel in it while holding onto the back.
"Hello! I'm Talliree. This is Mr. Whiskers! And the invisible silent ghosty is Lif! That's Mitchell, he's a bit of a sourpuss, and that's Hob, he's a pretty fun fellow, and then there's Ellena and Tania" she says as she excitedly introduces everybody, stopping only when she gets to Ellena and Tania, her expression falling as she realizes they'd already left.
"Uh, sorry, I guess they already left," Talliree apologizes before putting on a smile that isn't fooling anyone. "It's nice to meet ya, though!"
"What? We haven't left yet!" Ellena exclaims as she and Tania re-enter the taproom, having gone outside to take the stairs to the upper floors.
Fala smiles at everyone as their introduced by Talliree, including the invisible Lif.
Fala nods at Himo's question, "Oh yes, most of us on the street are at least acquainted with Volo, he visited with most of the shopkeepers before buying the Manor. So are you going to fix the place up? " she asks
"Oh! There they are," Talliree says, instantly brightening up when she hears them come.
"We're gonna do our best to. It may be a little slow going, but we're in for the long haul, I think," Talliree answers for Himo.