Location : Snakeskull Alley

The alley is in decent order all things considered. There is no obvious damage to any of the shops or homes. Mostly the trees lost a lot of leaves and a few limbs. The sewer grate at the end of the alley is where the bulk of debris has ended up, and where Marik finds Tally. The half-elf is sifting through and inspecting fallen tree branches and other scrap pieces.

The half-elf pauses and turns, "Hello there Marik!" He uses the branch he's holding like a walking stick and meets Marik at the open doors of the Bent Nail. "Glad to see you and your friend survived the storm unscathed. So what brings you to my door?"

[Language unknown: Ntlisi!...Mennc p none foat ine alltr forer.]. "I'll be short. I was wondering if you were looking for help, hands or muscle? We'd like to do some work on the manor, for which we'll need skill and materials and I'd like to exchange work as trade. Between Rani and me, we have quite some dexterity and strength. If you were willing to show us some techniques, we could help you with your craft if you wish"].]
This message was lightly edited by the player at 23:55, Fri 29 Oct 2021.

Filimena nods. "Thanks," she says, clearing her throat. She looks around the manor, at Ironclad, around the manor again, back at Ironclad, and then back at the children. "Well, like I said, you're welcome to stay a while, if you a place with a roof over your head. But don't feel any pressure."

She shrugs, feeling slightly awkward, and motions about the place. She looks at them a little while, gives a little smile, then turns to Ironclad once more. "Back to work, I suppose." She looks around, finding things she can fix with a Mending cantrip, picking up fallen furniture, and clearing away any debris that might have blown in with the wind, every so often glancing around to see what the children might be doing. If they do decide to leave, she wants to at least see them off.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:35, Mon 01 Nov 2021.

Location : The Bent Nail

"Of course!  We can work something out I'm sure. I'll talk with the Carpenters’, Roofers’ and Plasterer’s Guild and see if we can get a few more hands in to get things done quickly. Oh it will be good to have the manor open again, the alley has been worse ever since it got boarded up." Talli says with a smile.

"Say, have you talked with Ferard Tunnell? He's head of the Fellowship of Innkeepers. I've seen him around the Manor in the past, if you're looking to open the place back up you would be wise to speak with him, he has connections with Vintners’, Distillers’, and Brewers’ Guild as well as the Guild of Butchers, and the Bakers' Guild. I'm sure he'd love to put you in touch with all the right folks as wel as get you up to speed on the Fellowship of Innkeepers "

In reply to Filimena the Gentle (msg # 25):

Filimena : would you give me a persuasion roll please?

OOC: Blah, that's quite terrible. Rolled an 8.

10:20, Today: Filimena the Gentle rolled 8 using 1d20+5, rerolling ones with rolls of {1}3.  Persuasion!

[Language unknown: "N verersdin...ce..."] says Marik hesitantly, starting to realize the extend of the rabbit hole he is getting into. All of these guilds and management are far from his comfort zone. [Language unknown: " Ro ti ss ul we fo sttiur, urelesint olpefi e ee vorat me e si nc tho mieces metoesombe ounina, unent...." ].

Then an idea strikes him. As far as he can tell, compared to what he's used to, socialisation and affairs in Titan's Gate seem to revolve heavily around drinking and meeting in taverns. That's where he met Filimena and the others, that's where his contact was supposed to meet him and that's where Disanz met them to talk about the manor. And it seems to be a major point of connection for all the folks of Snake Skull Alley. Maybe...Yes! Maybe that could be the right way to obtain all they seek. By rebuilding the tavern, they could attract all sorts of folks and adventurers that could possibly share information about the ruins he seeks, about Filimena's brother, about strange sightings that could be related to the Dark ones or the illithids. The perfect bait for a hunter!


Marik snap back to reality, now with a smile on his face.

[Language unknown: "Ll...thaounone. O erin enpo he ndncin. Laree, il onero thiticthi. N tho iomele m Menainwhe. Traichnte wasereeau K ssic ess?"]

OOC: Oh my, it's happening! XD
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:59, Fri 05 Nov 2021.

The trio nod to Filimena but say nothing in return. Their eyes dancing about the manor main floor then signing to each other.

Location : The Bent Nail

Talli thinks for a moment, "I'm not sure, he doesn't come round my way save to occasionally bring by other Innkeepers who might purchase items from me. He could be at any of the inns in the city."

"Right..." thinks Marik. "Anything I could recognize him by? Unless you have something he had recently?....For the scent?"

Location : Snakeskull Manor Main Floor

There is a knock on the tavern door and a moment later in walks Renaer Buchanan - the young man that the Finders of Jzadirune found in that Hawks warehouse.  He's dressed for travel with a tabard dyed various shades of blue over leather armor and a rapier at his hip. "Hello friend, came to see how things were going here after that storm... seems as well as could be expected for a place left without care for so long."

Location : The Bent Nail

A chuckle escapes Talli before he realizes that Marik is serious, "Umm ... well no, but there's no need to literally track the man down as he'll come see you when he hears you're wanting to open the manor back up."

[Language unknown: "K, ouritr..."] says Marik with a forced chuckle. [Language unknown: "Stini werrescon he as"]. [Language unknown: "Weraveure ofsa arninc, whest a Thaureartame virnotven ma. No sa osbut ni ove foai ienefo."]
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:36, Tue 23 Nov 2021.

After taking his leave, Marik makes his way back to the manor and finds Filimena, as well as Ranear.


"Ah, Moein Ranear. We...held well. As for place... Just talked to Talli...about rebuilding Manor.." He insists on these last words and gives a glance to Filimena with a smile, like he has an idea in mind. "How was storm...on your side?"

Filimena shrugs at Ranaer, not disagreeing. The manor looks surprisingly good for what it's been through. Dare she say it, it might even look a little bit better! Credit where credit is due, though. She looks over to Ironclad, hoping to catch their eye and give them a nod of acknowledgement.

"And where are you off to?" she says, turning back to the young man. "I assume you're going somewhere." She gestures vaguely at his clothes.

OOC: I genuinely missed Ranaer's appearance and spent a good five minutes looking through the thread thinking, wait, Ranaer's been here the whole time???? Haha.

Renaer nods to Marik as he comes in and replies, "The tavern I was at seemed to manage alright. They suffered no real damage save for the rapid overgrowth of some bushes out front, strangest thing."

He turns to Filimena, "I was coming to see you two actually, as I was a bit concerned about the shape of this place, and I also wanted to offer you a bit of financial assistance, if you would be willing to accept it, for saving my life.  My father was the mayor of Titan's Gate at one time so I know how much money it can take to pay trades persons, the various guilds, as well as city inspectors to get a place up and running."

Filimena's eyebrows perk up. "That's... certainly very generous of you," she says, glancing over at Marik to gauge his reaction. "It's not only funding we're lacking, though, but the skills and the experience need to operate a tavern in the first place."

Resting one arm on her hip and the other propping up her chin, she looks to the ground, pondering. "I don't suppose with your connections, you know anybody with the opposite problem, keen on running a tavern, able, honest, but lacking a tavern of their own to run? We could provide the tavern, they could provide the skills and the labour, and you could... provide an initial investment. I think there's something for each of us to gain here." She smiles, simultaneously surprised and annoyed and pleased at herself.

"Just talked..Tali...the carpenter...He said...happy to help rebuild the manor. Rani and me...can help with woordworking and hands." He looks around the vast interior space. "I have ideas..." he says with a grin. "Ah yes. Tali...talked about a Ferard...that visits taverns...Master of Innkeepers was his title... I think. Might know someone that..could help with...running. We can consult...with Lif. Surely, they...have plenty experience".

Filimena nods, impressed. "Sounds good!"

At mention of Lif, Filimena smacks herself in the head. "Of course!" She turns to the counter, where she expects to not-see the ethereal being at work wiping down some glasses, or perhaps re-arranging them. "I'm sure Lif would love to help out as well. Wouldn't you, Lif" She chuckles, looking over to Renaer to hear his take.

A piece of chalk floats from the rough bar top and writes Of course! on a nearby wall.

Renaer, with a startled voice, cries, "By the Fire of Tuur! What is that?!" He draws his rapier and levels it on the piece of chalk.

Marik smile and raise a hand to make a "slow down gesture"

"Calm...No need scare...Lif is house...hum...manor spirit. Very amiable...knowledgeable...Been there a long time. Never seen house spirit before? Surely must be some where you live? "  ask Marik, very matter-of-factly
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:14, Thu 09 Dec 2021.

"No! we don't have house spirits!"  Renaer says with a flabbergasted tone.  "Typically we call such things ghosts, and they are often try kill people who enter where they haunt."  The man looks nervously at the floating chalk then to Marik and Filimena, his sword at the ready.

Filimena chuckles some more and shakes her head. "Don't worry, Lif won't hurt us," she says. "Or at least, he hasn't so far. I'm not sure if Lif has ever killed anyone. Have you ever killed anyone, Lif?"

The chalk floats back over to the wall and writes That was hag spirit