The officer looks mostly annoyed at you, "And we are the city watch. I would move along if I were you. These Zhent thugs ambushed some Xanithar goons. They'll get charged with murder. Haven't seen any red haired princes here." 

Cora, you see the corpses have some eye tattoos on them. The living Zhent thugs make eye contact with you coldly. 

(This is not in the Dock Ward yet, simply en-route)

Zhentarim. The Black Network.

Xanathar..

I'm sorry Aerik. That was a big mistake. I miss you and your family. This time, I promise. It'll be different. I regret many things I did in my life. 

Cora returned the cold stare that was being given to her from the Zhent, as if remembering something that happened a long, long time ago. She turned to the city watch.

"No trouble here, officer, we'll be on our way." Cora said, giving Lu Lu a glance and nodding her head that said lets move along.

Vincent had been interested in the crime scene, but when told to continue on, his gaze went elsewhere, but he did take a few curious glances every now and again while he waited for the others to continue forth. He was surprised that Lulu wasn't able to get them through, finding even her words to be convincing enough, but... The ex-soldier gave a shrug. "Aye, let's not get in trouble with our little mission already."

Heishe pins the Zhent who gave Cora a nasty look with an icy gaze. Very slowly and deliberately, she gives him a cold, sharp smile and forms her lips into an O, breathing out a soft stream of frost. Then she turns and follows Cora, not giving the group of Zhents another look.

"Zhents and Xanathar goofs." Cora muttered, mostly to herself. She almost rolled her eyes. "Something's telling me this isn't a good side of town."

As you enter the Dock Ward, you see densely packed tenements leave most of the neighborhood in shadow at ground level. Most of the streetlamps have had their glass smashed and their candles stolen, and the smells of salt air and excrement linger as you pass by rows of run-down buildings.

One nearby shop stands out from the others. It has a deep purple facade, and in its window hangs a stuffed beholder. Above the door hangs a sign whose elaborate letters spell out “Old Xoblob Shop.”

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.

What would you like to do?

Drusilla looks at the run-down bar and its patrons. "I at least hope that the ale here is good, or else Floon is a bigger fool than his name suggests."

"Euch.." Cora's face wrinkled. "This place stinks. Hells."

Welp. Time to do the job.

She walks up to the broken window and talks to the men on the other side. "Evening. I'm looking for a man. Handsome, in his thirties, wavy red blonde hair. Dressed like a prince." She shot a look to Lu Lu, saying, "..but isn't one." then back to the men. "Seen anyone lately fitting that description?"

Persuasion 6

She could already feel her blood pressure rising. She hated asking. She was used to beating the crap out of people for answers, so the urge to drag these men out from their chairs, through the broken window, and on to the pavement was certainly showing.

Vincent sets a strong hand down onto Cora's shoulder, sensing her unease. Being around many recruits who had varying emotions from nervous to anxious made his eyes keen to the queues of such feelings. Not to mention he could tell her type didn't normally go for the 'talking' way of obtaining information. "Excuse her, she's just a bit... antsy. Haven't gotten a good drink in her yet!" Another pat on the shoulder, hoping it would ease her up a bit. "But we have been lookin' for a man with that description. Last we heard, he was around here. We'd appreciate any information you gentleman can provide us."

Persuasion (if needed?): 6

(I'm not even surprised tbh)

Lu-lu laughs and points at the stuffed beholder as they pass by, “Look at that weird little thing!” Seeing Cora and Vincent talking to the patrons, Lu-lu wonders what help she might be, listening to Cora grit through a query and Vincent try his best to stumble through smoothing things over, she wonders if she might brighten someone’s day. She walks over, finding the grumpiest looking patron, and hands them the bag of Lu-lu dinner special, “Here! This is full of fish and chips! Would you be so kind as to answer my very stressed friend’s questions?” She smiles broadly at the patron, Persuasion: 18

Heishe enters a bit after the group, keeping herself separate from them like she's here on her own. She sits at an empty table and orders a drink while she watches the group to see how they're doing and how the patrons react.

Cora sighed, glaring at the patrons through the window, eagerly waiting for an answer while trying to to ball up her fists. It was hard to suppress natural tendencies - even well after two thousand years. So, we waited as patiently as she could for an answer. Deep down, most of her gut instinct prayed that they'd let her do this the hard way - the way she liked it. The way that made her heart pound in her chest, and the way that made her feel the blood coursing through her veins. Sure, she had a good side, a passionate, kind, loving side. It was just about the size of a mouse in a corner scared shitless of the large cat watching it.

"Hm... You know, me and my friends minds haven't been the best for a little while. Could use a little help remembering someone who might have looked like that," One of the patrons responds to Cora. Turning to Vincent, "I heard her, if you want to help me remember feel free to help." As Lu-Lu hands him the fish he kinda smiles. "See this young lady has the right idea. You are talking about Floon ain't ya. Haven't seen him for a few days. Him and that Volo fellow came in for a few drinks. More than that is a bit fuzzy at the moment... maybe some ale would help...."

Cora mumbled some obscene swear words under her breath. Oh, I see. I guess this is gonna take some coin, eh?

"Get these gentlemen some more ale.." she smiled as pleasantly as she could through gritted teeth.

“Oh? That sounds fine!” Lu-lu smiles politely, giving a wink at Cora before going off to order ales for the fellows.

Ales enough for this 5sp

As you bring them the ales, the men look at each other and back to you. "After drinking with Volo, Floon met up with Renaer Neverember. He is the son of the previous open lord of our fair city." “Chip off the old block, that one!” sneers one patron. “Just another spoiled, rich noble who likes to rub our noses in it!” says another. "They drank, played some Three-Dragon Ante, and left around midnight. Five men followed them out. Haven't seen any of them since. If you're looking for those men, check down by Candle Lane. A warehouse with a snake on the door. They are known to frequent there. Oh... and thank you ladies for the ale."

Lu-lu claps her hand together, “That was so helpful! Thank you so much!” She flashes her trademark smile before walking in the direction she THINKS leads to candle lane, before one of the party members who knows where they are going corrects her.

Heishe tilts her head at the mention of Renaer Neverember. Now there's someone she wouldn't mind rescuing. She smiles faintly and stands, slipping out of the bar just in time to see Lu-lu head off in the wrong direction. The dragonborn catches the initiate's shoulder in a light grip, making sure her claws don't pierce her clothes. "Not quite..." She turns Lu-lu gently until she's facing the right direction. "This way."

Cora eyes the drunks. “Thanks for the info.” is all she says, turns, and leaves towards Candle Lane. “How would they know about the mark on the door, I wonder..”

Lu-lu’s ears perk at Cora’s mumbling, “Does that sound familiar to you, Cora?”