Crush is going to rub his eyes before pulling out his bone pipe and lighting up the cheap tobacco. The orc would inhale deeply before exhaling out his nose, sending two plumes of smoke into the air like a set of chimneys. "take bird and eat it, no talk" he would grunt to Veryes

Gimme a persuasion check for Aria trying to get information from Frank.

PERSUASION: 19

NAT 20!!! 

Frank says, "Eh, my master wants me to be spyin' on you and tellin' my friends about what yer doin', throw yous off yer game and what not. I ain't doin' a great job if I'm bein' honest though, seein' as I'm tellin' ya the whole plan now and what not. Had us flyin' all over the city trailin' that guy, what's his nuts, the one ya don't trust? Shadrock or some such? So I should probably see myself outta here and report back to the boss, maybe find some way to smooth this over and so forth."

Frank gives a rude caw and flies off. 

Aria stands there dumbfounded for a few seconds.. she sighs, shakes her head and turns back to the party "Guys, there seems to be a lot going on. That bird... Frank... he told me his name was Frank. Anyway, Frank just told me some stuff that I don't think I was ready to hear. We need to be careful and watch our backs. There's someone watching us."

Blinking while taking this information in, Usul says "Well... that's unexpected. And very cool that you speak Raven! Staying hidden is something we're used to doing... but it helps to know from whom we need to hide. We're all just trying to find Anna for Ma and Pa... who would be watching us? Think it's that big shiny fellow making sure we're doing what he asked?"

Aria shakes her head "The person who sent the ravens to follow us are following Shadrach too. I'm starting to think there's something more that he's not telling us."

Thinking, Usul adds, to the party as a whole "That's even more curious then... Do you think we should try to talk to him again? See if we can find out more? Or should we focus on the brothers?"

Veryes says "We knew we were being watched. At least we shook them for the moment. I think we stay on plan and head to the brothers. They're expecting us right?"

"A stealth mission to find out more about Shad may be in order though"

I hate birds, says Sen morosely.  Definitely let's go find the brothers.  Maybe I can actually be useful for once.  We think they spoke to Anna and helped her with her... project, is that right?  he asks, trying to remember the confused mess of detail they've uncovered so far.

"You useful" Crush would say placing his heavy hand on the half-elf's shoulder. "Crush no sneak... Crush distract!" The orc would say with a grin as his armor rattles and clinks with every heavy footstep the orc takes. "We go find brothers"

"Agreed Crush. Let's just keep an eye out for those birds.. I might want to track one of them next time I see him." Aria starts to follow Crush and continually just scans the area as she walks.

I'm ready to fast forward unless anyone wants to do some shopping and spend your gold. 

I need to grab a hand crossbow, bolts and case but I don't think I'll need it tonight so I'm OK with going to meet the Brothers.

I do want to climb up on Crush's shoulders though if we're making our way back through the city :)

Crush would reach down and pick up Veryes by the back of her clothing and sit her on his shoulder as they head to the market before heading off after the brothers. "No want you squished" He would grunt with a smile after his companion was back on his shoulder.

You guys can take a shopping trip, that's fine. I don't want anyone going into this feeling unprepared. 

Fast forward:

We are late in the evening, around 10pm. The party is rested, fed, and geared up. They stand outside The Crawling Spider.

Your quest to find the missing girl has led you to this point and a flimsy lead: The Stonetooth Brothers were seen with the girl, Anna Kelver, who seems to have fancied herself some kind of adventurer.

The Crawling Spider is notorious in Waterdeep. Though the Yawning Portal gets all of the recognition for its immediate access to the Undermountain and the steady stream of adventurers finding some liquid courage in the bar and then finding their maker in the tunnels and catacombs below, the Crawling Spider is just as dangerous. Used by so many thieves, assassins, and would-be politicians in the Realm as a place to find work, to find information, to make and close deals. Conspiracies are hatched here. Treasure that only the gods themselves could conceive of has changed hands here. Countless plots to overthrow the powers that be have been born here. And here you all are.

Even though you were here several hours earlier, the Spider is a much different place now. The energy is different. Things feel so much more intense now. There's a girl missing -- you are, for all any of you know, her only hope in the world of being found.

You enter the Crawling Spider ...

Crush would walk through the doors with his hands on his hand axes, turning his large green head slowly looking for the bouncer he had become friends with earlier in the day.

Usul grew up around rough parts of town, but he dealt with it by keeping his head down. Very down. This is all new to him. He also would have left Muad back at the Hostel with a bone or two and a blanket to sleep on before coming here. Entering the Crawling Spider Usul's immediate, and almost visceral, first reaction is to duck down and get out of sight ((stealth 23)), hopefully using Crush as a distraction. Remembering that he's on a mission to help Ma and Pa to find Anna though, he'll look around and see if he can find anyone who looks like they may belong to a thieves' guild, or anyone with with a Mask's Purse ((which, by the way, Usul also carries on him at all times, currently with 2 silver and 15 copper in it)) ((perception 5)).