The barkeep eyes you for a moment. "Floon, Floon...Ah, can' say that I recall off'a top'a my head. My memory's quite dull these days, lacks the golden shine it what once had." He looks at you significantly, a glint in his eye.

Kalmar smiles and stops the coin’s dancing. He places it down on the bar and slides it to the bartender. See if that don’t jog it a bit, neighbor.

"Ohhh, didja say Floon?" the bartender asks with a grin as he takes your gold. "Thought ye said 'Fleen', yeah I 'member Floon, came in here a couple nights ago, din' he boys?" There are murmurs of agreement from the men sitting at the table. "Came in here with that Monster Guide man, Volo, ended up stayin' 'round an' drinkin' wit' young Ranaer Neverwinter."

There are a couple of chuckles and comments from the seated men at this name. "Chip of the old block tha' one," sneers one patron. "Jus' 'nother spoil't rich noble, wha' like ter rub our noses in in!" adds another.

"'Neeway," the barkeep continues. "Yer friend an' tha' lord's son ended up drinkin' 'til 'round midnight, left after tha'." He rubs his chin ponderously. "Few other folk followed 'em out, seem ter recall."

Kalmar smiles and snaps his fingers These fellas that followed them out, didna ‘appen to be a little fella with a shock a’ red ‘air, a one eyed ‘alf elf, and bald dwarf now did it? ((Im trying to get the barkeep to describe the ones who followed them out without outright asking.))

((Sorry for posting. Funeral service was all day today))

Ringo goes to the corner and takes out a small pouch, puts it on the floor in front of him. He then takes his horn, puts it up towards his pursed lips and plays (performance: 15 ).

After he plays a few tunes, as Kalmar questions the bartender, Ringo stops and takes the pouch from the floor and starts walking around the patrons to collect donations. He’ll try to size up a patron who looks willing to talk (perception: 17 ) and if that works he’ll sidle up on of the and say, “say friend can I buy you a tankard? (If friend accepts Ringo will continue with the following:) “So, do you come here often? I only ask because I have a friend who was in here a day or two ago looking for a fella named Floon. He said he was needing to talk to this guy Floon, but the guy was surrounded by one or two people so he had to wait to wait till this Floon fella left. Anyway, my friend, he’s the type who works with special people,” then Ringo presses his finger to his nose, “and he goes by many different aliases, so I can’t give you his name, but he’s got tattoos and he’s someone you wouldn’t want your daughter to bring home. Anyway, he left to find this Floon character and I haven’t seen him since and I owe him some money. Does that ring a bell at all?” (persuasion check: 11 ) 

If one of those checks fail Ringo will continue playing music while keeping an eye on Kalmar. 

Ringo, one of the patrons accepts your offer, slamming back his still mostly full tankard, standing with a belch, and following you to the bar.

Kalmar, the bartender shakes his head. "I dunno 'bout no dwarves'r'elves. No, there were five of 'em, regulars. Group o'...handymen. H'ain't seen 'em since, but I know 'em to hang 'round some warehouse on Candle Lane. Candle Lane, is it Thel?" the barkeep asks the patron approaching with Ringo.

"Aye," he replies, sitting down a few stools down from Kalmar and motioning for Ringo to do the same. "Can' 'member the name fer the life'o meh, jus' look fer the snake symbol on the door." He turns back to Ringo and listens to the halfling's questioning, cocking an eyebrow.

"Dunno what yer playin' at, stranger. M'guessin' yer not talkin' 'bout tattoos like these." Thel lifts an arms, displaying a crude patchwork sleeve of anchors, sharks, compasses, and a heart with 'Mama' written on it. He avoids your eye, continuing in a mumble. "Din' see any tattooed folk the nigh' this Floon was drinkin'. Dunno what yer playin' at..." The man looks as though he's hoping he's misinterpreted your implications, and a mild worried look of self-preservation is on his face.

Why not, let me get insight checks from both of you.

((No, worries! figured))

insight 8

 A sign wit a snake? Wha’ does the snake look like? And the regulars, you ‘appen to know their names? No, not tattoos like those, neighbor, those are fine though. Kalmar lifts up his sleeve to show some simple tattoos on his arm consisting of black lines and circles. Picked up a few me ownself.

The man looks up, tilting his head to look at Kalmar. "A...a black snake, up-an'-down-like, wit' a pair o' thin w-wings." The man has the look of someone afraid of impending criminal violence and who knows only too well its pervasiveness. "Look...I-I should get going, business to attend to..." He begins to stand slightly shakily, his drink foaming above the tankard's midline. The barkeep gives both of you a hard look, focusing on Ringo. "No eyes in 'ere of late, tha' I know of, jus' those thugs. Now I dunno if'n you two're working together, or if'n yer eyes yerselves, but I'll kindly ask yer to take any such business outta my door."

Kalmar downs his drink and puts up his hands. Say no more, neighbor, say no more! I tell ya true we’re not eyes or snakes or anythin’ A that sort. Completely unaffiliated, us. Just lookin’ for friend Floon. He looks at Thel and the others. And don’t leave on our account, friend! Stay ‘ave another pint or two. He puts another Dragon on the bar.  Another round for the lads, please landlord, and keep the change for yourself. And if’n Floon turns back up, tell em to get word to Volo, he knows how to contact us. But if any snakes or eyes ask after us, we’d thank ye for yer discretion. Kalmar flashes a crooked smile, gives Ringo a look and makes for the door.

20Insight: 

Ringo, you discern from the man's reaction and the context of the conversation that the men who pursued Floon were Zhenterim and that Thel mistook your words as indicating you work for Xanathar.

Anything else before leaving the Skewered Dragon?

That covers it for Kal.

Ringo takes whatever money he collected from donations and splits it 60-40 ole he said, leaving the coins on the bar and before he leaves, he turns and bows, and says, “gentleman,” and then leaves with Kalmar. 

I think that went pretty well! Let’s bring our feathered friend up to speed. Kalmar walks completely without chalant over to FC and then past him with a wink around the corner. When all three are together he says Alright, so Floon was in the Dragon drinking with Volo and Ranaer Neverwinter, then some Zhentarim thugs followed them out. Kal rubs his chin for a moment in thought. It could be that the Zhents were just after the Neverwinter kid and Floon got swept up in it. They hang out at a warehouse on Candle Lane, shouldn’t be hard to find as they hang a Zhent sign on the front... Ringo, you know anything about the Neverwinters? How we could find out if the kid is missing?

Ringo keeps a lookout around the corner as Kalmar gives the lowdown to Fluttercloak. When Kalmar asks Ringo about the Neverwinters he think for a moment about the few times the Phantom Players performed near Waterdeep if he remembers anything (history: 13 ). 

You got a 15 performance correct? Lets call that five copper, a good enough performance for two poor patrons to fork over one each, and for one drunk appreciative one to give you three. Plus the drinks were on the house, though that might have been in part due to the intimidating misunderstanding.

Ringo, you recall hearing the Neverember name ((Sorry got it mixed up)) in both Waterdeep and in Neverwinter, the jewel of the north. You are fuzzy on the exact details but the story is somewhat commonplace. Lord Dagult Neverember, presumably Ranear's father, was the previous Open Lord of Waterdeep. As is Waterdavian custom, Neverember's position in the Lords of Waterdeep was the only one which was public knowledge, hence the name. You can't remember who the current Open Lord is as it's been some time, nor exactly how Dagult was ousted, but you've also heard his name up in Neverwinter, where he's claimed the title of Lord and Protector of Neverwinter, to mixed response.

By now, Fluttercloak's disguise has worn off and he's back in his normal form. "Candle Lane," he mimics, preening the feathers on his shoulder and looking agreeably at the two of you. "No-one out here," he adds in a troubled old woman's voice that sounds like she might in fact be looking for him. He thinks ponderously at Kalmar's musings, holding up one claw from each hand and continuing in a strong halfling accent "Ahh, ye all look the same ter me, great big gangly folk."

Kalmar stretches his mind back to Cormyr and his noble upbringing and into his mercenary contracts to see if anything sticks out about the Neverembers. HISTORY 4 What do we say boys, head to Candle Lane and get right into it with the Zhents or see if we can’t light a fire with the Neverembers? We could even try to talk to that watchwoman from before, see if anyone’s looking for a missing noble.

Kalmar, nothing stands out from your background specifically, but you have heard more or less the same history that Ringo has, plus that Dagult was voted out of his position while pursuing his title of Lord and Protector of Neverwinter. Neither of you recall anything specific about his son Ranear, though you figure he's of much less repute.

It is currently early evening, how would we like to proceed to Candle Lane?

I’m thinking out to Way of the Dragon and then straight up. Should be able to blend in with the crowds a little bit on the main drag that way.

Ringo agrees. Plus it’s a wider street to which allows for more options incase we run into some problems.