Coming Clean

One thought replayed intensely in my head as I crawled out of the manhole to sully the street with the foul slime caked onto my leather armor. My skin itched and I had the taste of 1000 random people's shit in my mouth. I needed a bath, and I needed it immediately. I made this known to my companions, and they didn't fight me on it. We made for the nearest establishment that might offer baths.
 
That establishment was Mother Tathlorn's House of Pleasure and Healing. Quite a mouthful. (No pun intended.) I was almost a little reluctant to go in when I saw all the prostitutes out front. I am sort of spoken for, after all. (I hope.) When the scantily clad goliath man out front was outlining the prices for us, he made it clear that Marlaia and I would need private baths before we were able to join the others. The price was one gold for the whole lot of the others, but Marlaia and I had to cough up a gold a piece to get individual cleanings beforehand. Sure, it was steep, but if it was me, I wouldn't accept a shard less than what was charged to deal with the amount of mess that my tiefling companion and I brought into the house.
 
Once I was clean, I left behind the tub of soapy shitwater to join the others. Igris paid handsomely for this ridiculous spread of seafood. I was pleased to sample it. It had been quite a long time since the eggs I ate the other morning. As I ingested bits of raw fish, I observed the others. Marlaia and Daara discussed something, I'm not sure what. I saw Urku talking to Neverember at one point, I'm not sure what that was about, either. With this lot, though, I feel pretty safe in assuming that no one's plotting against me in secret.
 
Neverember and Floon seemed quite fond of each other. I should have guessed it. I wonder if Neverember ever suffered the wrath of his family for his preferences. With my own proclivities towards nonhuman women, I am glad I don't come from a noble house. The last thing I need is someone like my father telling me who to fuck.
 
Scorch made himself present. I helped with some translation, and even had a little fun at his expense. It's only fair. He's got me talking to myself quite a bit. I laughed quietly to myself when Igris used the flames coming from Scorch's head to cook bits of fish. I thanked Ilmater and Oghma when one of those bits of fish transformed into Tiger. It looks like I won't be making that dreaded return trip to the sewer, after all.
 
After we were cleaned, fed, rested, and healed, we made our way back to the Yawning Portal. I was eager to get my cut of the pay. Unfortunately for me, Volo didn't have it. For a second, I thought about roughing him up. Those old days are long gone, though, and luckily for Volo, everybody seemed pleased enough to accept what he offered us instead of gold: the very haunted Trollskull Manor. I expected Erik to turn on us immediately. Instead, he just asked for a job when we turn the place into a business. (Easier said than done.) I was initially against it, but when I considered that Volo would probably never be able to pay us the exorbitant amount that he owed us, Trollskull Manor was better than nothing.
 
The following morning, Volo took us to get the paperwork involving the property out of the way. Once that was cleared, we went to Trollskull Manor for a tour. The place seems as though it was a thriving inn and tavern at one point or another before ghosts started murdering people there. The manor offers us plenty of space, working plumbing, and even stables. (It does need a lot of work, though.) My father would be proud. Even with the manor's current shortcomings, it almost puts his pub to shame. We didn't see anything too frightening during our walkthrough, but I'm sure the evil spirits will need dealing with sooner rather than later.