Auric:

Auric will put down the gold piece for the exotic bookmark, saying, “Thank you for your assistance, good shopkeeper.”  He makes ready to leave (or will wait for others to do their shopping).

Rayner after leaving the shop, calls everyone to discuss the new informations.

Rayner: “ A Black tattoo with a winged snake... Soo those kidnappers are Zhents...”

Urukar grunts in acknowledgement.  "Zhent?  Is that some sort of creature?  And can it be killed?"

Auric:

Auric looks uncharacteristically perturbed, as his dragon kin have been pejoratively references in the past as flying snakes or worms.  “Certainly that isn’t a reference to a dragon, is it?” he says, seemingly offended at the thought.

"Does that tell you anything we can use?"  Valen asks with a frown.  "seems to me we still need to move on to this skewered  Dragon..."

Rayner: "I mean the Zhentarim, they are a organization that trades mercenaries and goods for profit. Seems that they have some bad deals going on in the city."

"Well, Floon's in trouble if he's caught up with them. Let's get moving." Mal'thrae says, leading them to the tavern that Volo mentioned.

The Skewered Dragon looks like a ruin. Both of its front-facing windows are smashed, and a ship’s anchor is lodged in the roof. Through the windows, you can see a group of haggard patrons drinking from huge tankards.

Auric:

"I suppose we should just go in, then," says Auric.  "Anyone know exactly what we should be looking for other than a person with the Zentarim tattoo?"

Rayner: "We should ask the patrons about Master Volo and Master Floon first. Keep the information about the Zhents to our selfs, we don't want the atention on our selfs just yet."

After this Rayner goes around asking about the encounter Volo discribed and what did happen that fated night.

Valen takes a seat at the bar.  He watches the others as they talk to the patrons and waits for the staff to come by for him to order an ale.

When you walk in, there is a brief moment of silence as everyone in the place looks at you before resuming their conversations. 

Rayner, you are met with varying degrees of refusal to talk, from determined silence to outright hostile "mind your damn business".

Likewise, the only staff Valen can see is a bartender that won't look his way, polishing a glass with a filthy rag.

Mal'thrae shakes his head and approaches any patron who appears to be alone, so that their conversation isn't intruded upon.

"Hey. Seen Floon Blagmaar or Volo around lately? There's dragons in it for ya if you talk, and I don't mean the scaly kind."

He puts one gold dragon coin on the table between them.

Persuasion: 19

Giving an annoyed grunt, Valen pulls a gold coin out of his own pouch as well. He places it on the counter with a click to get the barkeep's attention.

The barkeep buffs in annoyance, but snatches the gold piece up and plops a tankard down without a word.

The man across from Mal'thrae snatches the coin up without hesitation. Yeah I seen 'em. They comes in here time ta time. I'm Volo took off'n then that Neverember kid came in...Renaer. Chip off'n the ol' block, that'un. 'Nother spoilt noble come ta rub our noses in it.

“Noble, hm? I see. That would fit with what I heard about Floon being with someone of similar dress. Now, I also heard that they were jumped by five men, one with a black winged snake tattoo. Know anything about them? I’ll throw in a pitcher of ale on top of the dragon if I like what I hear.” The half-drow smiles, putting another coin down.

Valen holds his finger on the coin as the barkeep tries to take it.  "Know anything about a man with a flying snake tattoo?"  He asks, letting go of the coin after asking the question.

Urukar stands alongside the sitting Valen, and adds his own question as they play tug-of-war over the coin.  "Why would nobles visit this place?  Do you also keep Trolls for entertainment?"

Auric:

Auric stands near the doorway, trying to process why human nobility would come here, of all places, to socialize.  It would seem to tarnish their noble bearing and, at the same time, irritate the unwashed masses that reside here.  In Dragonborn society, if you wanted to gain the admiration of the poor, you gave them opportunities to better their station, or heroically rescue them from whatever monster threatens their livelihood, not wallow with them in their filth.

As he is standing near the door, thinking this through and trying to keep a disgusted look off his face, he hears the name Renaer Neverember...Something about that name might sound familiar if he is a noble, even a human one...

History:  6

(Auric, you don't need a history check to know Dagult Neverember, previous open Lord of Waterdeep)

The barkeep scowls at Urukar. I don't know nuffin. Bad fer business. Drink yer drink and leave.

Yeah, regulars they is, ain't been back since that night though. They got them a warehouse on Candle Lane the man tells Mal'thrae. That's good, valuable information, 'at.