Randy: You head downstairs and see the man pictured above. Then you smell man pictured above. He turns and addresses you. "Hello, you must be with this party. My name is Renaer Neverember. Thank you for stopping those nasty birdmen."

He holds out a hand that reeks of rotten fish.

Randy blandly says, "You are welcome," aloud. However, in Neverember's mind Randy shrieks, "DO NOT TOUCH ME!!!"

Randy: His eyes go wide and he pulls his hand back. “Oh, um, yes, of course. Nice to meet you."

He addresses the rest of the party. “Can anyone tell me where I am? I was very rudely accosted and brought here a few days ago with my friend Floon-” The mention of that name causes him to stop short. “Floon! He was taken! A different group of thugs came in, killed our captors and took him!”

He drops his head in despair. “And that's not the worst part.” When he looks up at the party, there are tears in his eyes. “They thought he was me! And I was too scared to tell them otherwise.” He wipes his eyes, “He may be hurt or dead and it's my fault!”

Sol's eyes widen a touch, "That's  unfortunate,  we were sent out to find Floon Blagmaar by a concerned party. Tell us all that you know. Were these birdmen part of this?"

"Yes, they are with the Xanathar Guild." He looks over at the pile of corpses near the wall to the east. "They were sent to steal me from the Zhents."

He takes a deep breath and continues his story. "The Zhentarim thinks that my father embezzled a large amount of gold while he was Open Lord, and that he hid the dragons somewhere in the city. They think they can find it by using an artifact called the Stone of Golorr, which was in the hands of the Xanathar Guild until recently. Apparently, someone stole it. The Zhents thought I knew something about all of this, but I don't. My father and I haven't spoken in years."

 "A relationship between father and son is important," consoles Kevin. "Tell us more and spare no details."

Randy's cavernous hood turns to Kevin and a quite resigned sigh emanates from it's depths. Then the hood turns back to Neverember. "Yes, please tell us about your father." Randy says in deadpan.

Renaer Neverember is about to delve into his relationship with his father when the door to the warehouse bursts open. In barge about a dozen members of the City Guard. The group is lead by this man:

He quickly looks around at the disheveled room, the tied up Kenku, the pile of bodies, and finally at the party. With a gruff voice he says, "Nobody move! What's going on here?!"

What do you want to do?

Randy looks to Neverember and blandly suggests. "Perhaps you could sort out this confusion?" He then turns to the Guard and calmly says, "I believe the young Lord Neverember could explain what has transpired."

Dewey finally stands up from the corner and using his cat reflexes he interposes himself between the guard and Neverember. 

“And we are happy to explain ourselves to any representatives of justice in this city. However, I believe a round of introductions would be fortuitous. I be Dewey Krotchbottum, of the illustrious clan Krotchbottum, known across the 9 seas for our prowess around the poop deck. With me is this strapping gentlemen Kevin the Kind but also Brutal... so maybe the kind of brutal, I’m not quite sure?  Then there is SolRhea renowned the world over as the owner of a first name composed of multiple capital letters!  And last but not least, Randy the rambunctious, but don’t be fooled, his hard partying ways are a front for the deeper mysticism of a man who never leaves a back door unexplored.”  

Dewey bows with a flourish. And then glances over at Neverember and the bird. 

“Oh, there’s also this guy, but I’ll never remember his name, and a stupid bird, who you should probably just kill, but I can’t now because I said I wouldn’t... and a Paladin keeps his word even to stupid ******* birds.” 

Dewey: The man seems taken aback by your impromptu speech. He blinks for a second while processing what you said. He then shakes his head and turns to Renaer Neverember, noticing his disheveled state. “Lord Neverember? Is that you? What happened to you?”

Renaer steps forward and addresses the guardsman. “Yes, Staget, it is me.” He looks around at the chaos around him. “And this... this is a long story.”

Renaer then relates the story of how he and Floon were abducted after a night of drinking by Zhents, how they were taken to this warehouse to be stashed, and how a gang of Xanathar's thugs raided it and took Floon. He doesn't mention the Stone of Golorr. He then tells the guardsman about how the party heroically and selflessly rescued him. He points to the surviving kenku, “It can confirm everything I'm saying.”

The Man from the City Watch turns to the party and bows. “I thank you all for your service to the city. My name is Hyustus Staget, and I am a Captain of the City Watch. My beat is the Dock Ward, and it's my job to keep the blood off the streets.”

He reaches into a small pack on his back and pulls out a peace of parchment. He offers it to the party and says in a sterner voice, “While your in my city, you'll keep your noses clean.”

(Take and open the parchment)

Sol reached out for the parchment, unrolling and looking it over with vague interest, before passing it off to Kevin. "Of course, we all know and ...respect the rule of law and the balance of decorum which defines us all above the lesser beasts of the field."

Kevin eyes the parchment and replies, "Even my eyes grow weary at the length of these rules, though I respect your commitment to your charge, good sir.  We may arch an eyebrow or two at the sight, but I promise we are a trustworthy lot."

Sol Rhea and Kevin: Captain Staget nods in approval. “Good to hear. Best not to meddle in criminal matters. Leave this dirty business to the City Watch.”

He turns to Renaer, “Sir, if you come with me, I can arrange for an escort to take you home.”

Renaer waves off Staget's offer. “That won't be necessary Captain, I have perfectly good escorts right here,” he says as he gestures at the party.

He turns to you all and says, “I would like to join you in your search for Floon. It's my fault he was taken and I need to do my part to get him back.”

He pauses. “That is, if you'll have me...”

Randy's hood dips slightly. "I have no objection to your presence."

Randy: Renaer nods to you in appreciation and looks at the rest of the party.  "What do the rest of you say?"

“Aye, so long as you remind me of your name from time to time.”  Dewey winks at Neverember, before turning back to Staget.  

“Captain. Do you or your men have a healer in your ranks, or a medic?  I sustained some injuries in battle, and would appreciate the help.”

Kevin turns to Neverember and says, "Always happy to welcome a new friend!"

Sol shrugs a little "Even if I were to object, it would seem the matter has been settled."

Renaer grabs a dagger and a rapier from the weapon pile near the bodies. He swings them a few times, testing them out. He nods. “These will do nicely.”

Dewey: Captain Staget hooks a thumb over his shoulder at a guard behind him. “Cedric can cast Cure Wounds.”

A short, skinny man with short brown hair steps forward. “I can cast this spell twice, who needs healing?”