18

When it's time to leave, Caszimir plays his exit with feigned disappointment. He pushes the sailor aside, though drunk as the man is, Casz doubts he even knows what's going on. He tenderly slides himself off the Dragonborn's lap, at the same time sliding the gnome off his own lap. He whispers sweet nothings in their ears and promises to see them again. A wistful lie, but one they should love to hear. [Performance: 19]

He's almost to the door when he reconsiders himself. He turns and weaves a Message to the Dragonborn, offering a silent invitation to his room at the Yawning Portal much later, when all this is done. He leaves with a wink, a final caress of the eye on his gracious "entertainers," and walks out. The moment he's clear, he allows his act to slip, a slight look of annoyance on his face. 

"Finally," he sighs, his expression almost cold in contrast to his usual performance. He manages to recite what he's learned, without repeating some of the more embarrassing advances he's had to endure, though he makes sure to mention the gang's name and the guard's potential knowledge of their activities. "If nothing else, it gives us extra leads."

Wagner nods, "That tracks with the snake symbol, the Zhents use a winged snake as their symbol."

"Off we go to check out that warehouse, right?" asks Oriace after Casz recounted his experience. 

He figures that he had the better part of the job in there. No way that he had endured a drunken sailor all that time. It's one thing to sing about one but yet another to ... to ..., he shakes his head to banish the thoughts. 

"Neverwinter's highest nobility is involved, too, with a Neverember. Our target might not have been the one they were after actually. Let's hope they didn't kill him outright after reeling in their big fish."

You head off to Candle Lane. Gloom envelops the narrow alley, as dark as a dungeon — and as odorous as one, too. Nearly all the streetlamps have been smashed. The only light that pierces the darkness is a faint flickering from down the lane, like a distant candle (hence the name). The flickering comes from the one streetlamp still intact on Candle Lane, kept alight by a magic. A two-storey warehouse is directly across the street from the lamp, which stands at the back of an outer yard behind a high fence. The gate on the fence isn’t locked. The building has three points of entry you can see — a front door, a large warehouse loading door, and a painted-over window. The light from the lamp is enough to illuminate the symbol of a black winged snake above the handle. 

"You'd think noble folk would avoid places like this," Sterling muttered quietly, shaking his head. First the decrepit tavern, now this warehouse in the middle of a dark, run-down neighborhood.

"Still, a job's a job. So..." With his familiar now perched on his shoulder, the bard quickly looked around for any signs of the guards that supposedly watched over the place, before approaching the fence.

(( If he spots a guard, he'll not actually go up to the fence, but will instead stay back and point him/them out to the others. Perception Check: 19, and Perception Check for Jasper: 9 ))

The area is currently deserted 

Sterling looked to the others and pointed to the unlocked gate, then thought a moment. "Jasper," he whispered, "go see if you can find another way in. If you do, take note of what you see. Stay hidden." The little weasel squeaked his response back, before hopping off his perch and darting through the openings in the fence towards the warehouse.

(( Jasper's checks, Perception: 20 to find an opening, and Stealth: 17 to stay hidden ))

Keeping his voice down, the bard continued. "Well, we can get in easy enough. Any ideas for how to handle our infiltration? I know none of us knows Seeming or Pass Without Trace, so maybe just wing it and hope for the best?"

"Not sure. I haven't done many infiltrations. Can we not just go in and if we find someone, we ask directions? Or whatever feels like a good way out of the situation?" whispers Oriace even though it doesn't seem to be anyone nearby. "I can put someone into a magical slumber if that becomes necessary. Other than that, I think, if we are silent we have a chance that no one notices us, no?"

"'Not sure I approve of concealing this beautiful body and face," he waves his hands before himself, as if this explanation is obvious in and of itself, "but I suppose I should remind you all that I do have a Disguise spell..."

There is no other (logical) entrance visible other than those three. There are some other blacked out windows, but they are locked and closed, and more out of reach for breaking into. 

While you have been stood there, no one else has entered the alleyway, but you are conscious that the longer you spend planning, the more chance of being spotted there is.

"Well, there don't seem to be any other entrances," said Sterling as Jasper returned, hopping back onto his shoulder. "And we probably don't want to be caught outside here. What say we just head for the front door and go on in? What's the worst that--"

Catching himself before dooming the party, Sterling coughed, then rephrased his question into a statement, "I'm sure we'll be able to handle whatever crops up." With that, he slipped past the gate and headed towards the door.

"'Scuse me if I find a piece of wood to knock on," Casz muses, his voice oozing sarcasm. Nevertheless, he follows his fool of a boss in. 

Oriace shrugs and follows Sterling and Casz. 

You head to the front door, and it is locked. You see there is a sliding peephole that can be opened from the inside but it is currently closed.

"Anyone good with locks?" says Wagner. Is there a gap under the door enough to see through?

There is a very small gap. Enough that you can see a strip of light, but that is about it

Quote from Charwoman_Gene >>

"Anyone good with locks?" says Wagner. Is there a gap under the door enough to see through?

 "Are we certain there's no one on the other side before we try breaking things open?" the Eladrin whispers hesitantly. If there's a peephole, there's likely a door guard.

“We could just knock and ask something. At least that might tell us if someone is home and let’s get a feeling for how many they might be and if they are the aggressive type.”

"Should the others hide? That way, if whoever answers isn't happy to see us, only one of us gets beaten or captured." Casz is a "people person," a regular Casanova. He can play crowds with ease. This? Skulking, breaking in, subterfuge – this isn't his strong suit.