You all approach the table to which the barkeep pointed. Sitting at the crudely made table and drinking large tankards of ale, you see a gray haired dwarf, a bald halfling, and a black haired human. None of them look happy to see strangers approaching.

Randy: After listening to your questions with stone faces, they mumble to themselves and return to their drinking. Once the the drinks you ordered (cost: 3 cp each x 7 mugs = 21 cp) arrive however, you notice a change in their demeanor. With fresh ales in hand, they look more receptive to your inquires.

Dewey: The bald halfling looks you up and down, judging your worthiness as a sailor. When he finally speaks, he says, "I like the way you talk, Cat Man."

Kevin: The three dock workers suddenly look surprised to see you, like you weren't around for a while...

Sol Rhea: The black haired human seems very happy to see you. "Rarely does one as beautiful as yourself enter our humble tavern. We remember the man you are talking about and we will gladly help you." The halfling and the dwarf look at each other and snicker quietly at their friend's sudden eloquence.

They remember seeing Volo and Floon drinking together a couple of nights ago. After Volo left, Floon stuck around long enough to meet with another friend: Renaer Neverember, the son of Waterdeep's previous Open Lord, Dagult Neverember.

"Chip off the old block, that one!" sneers the dwarf.

"Just another spoiled, rich noble who likes to rub our noses in it!" says the halfling.

The two drank and played a few rounds of Three Dragon Ante before leaving around midnight. Five men followed them out, and no one in the tavern knows what happened after that. The men who left shortly after Floon and Renaer haven't returned to the tavern since, but they're known to frequent a warehouse on Candle Lane.

"Look for the snake symbol on the door," the human says to Sol Rhea.

"Yarr, ye can always rely on Seamen for a good drink!"  Dewey says as he raises a glass to toast.

"Aye," affirms Kevin.  "And Seawomen, too!"

Randy asks, "Please describe the men who frequent the warehouse on Candle Lane. Is there anything that could help us identify them?"

Sol  smiles awkwardly to the human and his group. Flirting being out of the scope of her abilities she fidgets, pleased that Randy has taken the conversation.

Randy: The three look at each and start describing the five men almost simultaneously.

One stands about 5'9", wears silk and lounges about seductively. His left leg appears badly burned and disfigured. He has dyed his greying black hair a little too much giving a sharp black color.

Another is dark-skinned and typically wears grey cloth garments or leather armor. He is tall, broad shouldered and powerfully built. He has a very tight haircut. His otherwise smooth face is marked with small tiny scars.

Two of them are middle-aged and generally shirtless to show off their tattooed chests, and they're not the most attractive man. Their hair, while still mostly chestnut, has prominent grey streaks.

And the final has thick toned arms and a paunchy gut. He is well dressed, but even with his fine clothing he looks run-down. He keeps his long auburn hair kept up in a rat tail.

Randy hums quietly to himself for a couple seconds then asks, "What happened to Dagult Neverember? Why is he no longer the Open Lord?"

Randy: The bald halfling says with some disdain in his voice, "The politics of lords and ladies are not for the understanding of us little folk." He sips his ale. "All I know is he went off to play 'Lord Protector of Neverwinter.' Good riddance I say. He's been replaced by Laeral Silverhand. She's alright, I guess." He shrugs.

"Unless my companions have further questions, I believe we are done here. Enjoy your drinks." Randy says as though reading off a script in a foreign language without any emotion or inflection. Then he cocks his head to the side.

Kevin nods happily at his comrades, pleased with this newfound information.  Slowly, he begins wetting himself.  Not out of fear or lack of control, but because this is what Goliaths do.

“Fragrant.” Dewey says with a nod of approval. 

Sol thanks the group for the information, carefully avoiding eye contact with the flirtatious one. 

You all say your farewells to your newfound dockworking friends and you leave the Skewered Dragon, heading north for Candle Lane.

When you reach Candle Lane, you notice the buildings on either side are so tall and so tightly packed together that you wonder if the sun ever touches the street during the day. 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.

What do you want to do?

"Seems a likely place for an ambush...." Sol whispers to the crew, Stroking Dartagnan nervously as she keeps her eyes alert.

“Aye.”  Dewey says warily. With a wave of his hand he casts detect good and evil and looks around with his cat eyes to see if he can find anything in the shadows. 

Perception check - 13

Dewey: Your eyes light up for a second as you cast your spell. Looking around, you detect no creatures of Good or Evil in the immediate vicinity. Your perception tells you that there is no one out on the street at this late hour.

Kevin lights a torch and says, "Let's find a snake on a door., shall we?"

Emboldened by Dewey's immaculate eyesight, you all walk down the lane, checking each door for a snake. As you get closer to the flickering streetlight at the end of the lane,  Sol Rhea and Randy notice that it's not a candle, but a continual flame spell. A warehouse is directly across the street from the lamp, which illuminates a black winged snake painted above the door's handle. The snake symbol looks similar to some of the tattoos you saw earlier on the people being detained by the City Watch.

Randy looks at the Warehouse. "The Warehouse on the Mainstreet. This is where everything happens."