Simply put - fight rykard as your final manor business. Complete three assassination contracts from tanith first targeting istvan, rileigh, and hoslow for their unique armor sets and weapons. Make sure to wrap up rya's storyline about her necklace and the manor's secrets, finish bernahl's quest including his vargram contract, and don't forget about patches if you want that magma whip.

Taking down rykard early is a classic mistake that locks you out of everything - the npcs pack up and leave, contracts become void, and you miss out on some really nice gear like the raging wolf set and serpentbone blade. Once he's down, there's no going back until ng+ so patience definitely pays off here. Just focus on clearing all the contracts and npc conversations first, then deal with the big snake lord when everything else is done and dusted. The manor's got plenty to offer if you play it smart and take your time with the quests.