Urukar sizes up the new arrival, before turning to Mal’thrae.  “You would turn this over to the Watch?”  He kicks the kenku firmly with his boot.  “The beast can no doubt mimic our voices, along with what was said here.  We should kill it and be done with it.”

With the golden bars already in his pack, Valen swears at the sound of the guards call from outside.  Grimacing, he looks at how large the paintings are and decides what the hell.  He picks up them as well and walks out with two under each arm. 

Famous author, eh? Never heard of either one. He motions for his men to give the rope back. Then he squares a searching look at Urukar. I would take it as a kindness if you would turn this one over to me, seeing as how it is bound and defenseless. Unless you have something to hide? He notices Valen walking up with the paintings under his arms and raises his eyebrows, but says nothing, turning his gaze back to the group at large.

Rayner: "I think our group would not oppose to you making the arrest, Captain. We have still to find where those scoundrels have taken Master Floon. Any tips on where we should look 1st? I know this would be a city guard effort in a normal situation, but you have your hands full with a bird, soo let us be the ones that help with the "killing two birds with 1 stone" problem."

Rayner smirks to the captain.

Persuasion: 21

Auric:

As Auric joins the others, he says, "Ranyer, you speak wisely.  I am sure the guard's task is to keep the unrest between these rival gangs from spilling into the streets, and this warehouse is the site of a pretty significant battle, from the looks of things.  Capturing a gang member and rescuing a lord of Waterdeep--with the help of some concerned citizens, of course-- both in one night is quite a remarkable accomplishment for the guard, I would say, perhaps even worthy of a commendation."

Continuing, Auric asks, "Before the guard escorts the prisoner to jail and the lord to safety, though, I have a question -- what was the Kenku saying earlier about the sewers?  Something about following markings of some sort?  Perhaps that is where they were planning to take Lord Neverember had we not come along."

"These only repeat what others have said, too stupid to come up with their own words."  Urukar gives the kenku another kick to get it to repeat what it had told Mal'thrae.  "Sing for us again, bird!"

The kenku grunts and says "no time to loot the place, just get him to the boss."

Staget looks at the bird, then around at the party. Well you certainly talk like adventurers. Look, here's some advice. I wouldn't meddle in criminal matters if I were you, I'd leave it to the watch. That kinda stuff can get messy. And keep the blood off the streets, huh? Not every watch officer is as nice as me. And before you go, you need to take a copy of this. It's the code legal, and you should memorize it. I suppose you're free to go...please don't make me regret it. 

He hands Rayner a folded sheet of parchment:

"Will do, captain. Thank you."

Mal'thrae turns to his companions as they leave the warehouse, art and silver bars in hand. "The bird mentioned signs in the sewers. Perhaps we should find a safe place to stash what we found before we delve into the tunnels below this city."

Rayner: " We hope not to break any laws captain. We shall do everything by the book."

Auric:

”Indeed,” says Auric, agreeing with Rayner and accepting a copy of the rules.  Not seeing anything on the list about looting from dead gang members, he looks at Mal’thrae and says, “Have you been staying in the city?  We could take your new items to your abode, then come back and look for these ‘sewer signs’”.

"My place no be far from here."  valen suggests.  "Let's take these things there and we can be back after this guy Volo misplaced."

"Let me see that..." Urukar snatches the parchment from Rayner's hand, and squints at it, murmuring as he reads it to himself.  "Hmph, these punishments are soft, and there is no mention of battle to resolve disputes."  He catches the tail end of the conversation, and grins as he nods at the items Mal'thrae is carrying.  "It is good to see that you intend to pay scant regard to these rules too."

Valen heads out with the paintings under his arms and the gold in his pack, and leads the others to his flop.  There would be a bit of a pause as he deactivates the fairly impressive number of locks and tripwires he has set up all around the place, some might think it a bit overboard...  "You would be careful too if you had them after you."  Valen says with a shrug as he finishes up.

"On the contrary, I intend to keep them well in mind, Urukar. I don't believe in following the law to ridiculous extremes (gotta have some fun in life, y'know) but I'm not going to kill or steal from people I don't have to, especially those who don't have it coming." Mal'thrae chuckles. "And what better example of people who probably had it coming than the Zhentarim? Hell, they probably stole the paintings and silver in the first place."

"Besides, I can't be off making a name for myself if I'm stuck in a prison for months at a time, can I?"

"As for battle to resolve disputes, there's charges of assault and/or murder with justification. Perhaps dueling is legal, though. Not sure."

Rayner: "Well group, we need to hurry and get to find a way to the sewers. Also Valen, what are you going to do with those paintings? Are you bringing those with you?"

"We should probably find somewhere to sell them and split the money." Mal'thrae says.

(Is Raenar with us?)

Auric:

"Let's worry about that after we rescue this Floon person," says Auric.  "Shall we head into the sewers, then?  I've been needing to do laundry anyway."

(He strapped his armor and sword on and followed you out, yes. If you would like to sell your goods, a DC 10 investigation check is sufficient to find a suitably dubious enough merchant to buy them that won't rip you off either.)

valen's investigation check: 16

Valen would be keen to sell them if they can do so quickly, and then get to the sewers.  Otherwise he will stash them in his place.

Valen would have shown the others the gold bars as well, and would be sharing fully any coins he gets from the selling of the paintings, and any money the bars are worth.