"To each their own", Gaèl shrugs, and then eagerly resumes the hunt for clues, his main focus on the ground to see if he can follow the trail of blood droplets that led to the initial discovery of the house.

Investigation: 23

Gael manage to find the blood, though it's getting harder.  The captors likely realized that their quarry had started bleeding and worked to stop it, you can tell, because there is a larger collection of blood in one spot and then very little after that.  You are able to find one more drop that goes to the front door, and then nothing else.  

Gaèl follows the trail out the door and stops. "I guess we got lucky following them this far in the first place." He begins to look around, scanning the scenery outside the house for any shop or a similarly busy place that could be inhabited by potential witnesses.

Perception: 7

He then turns to the others, reporting what he found. "The trail ends right here. They dragged our target through the passage, pulled this little move with the interchangeable walls, then continued out of the house again. We'll have to stick to other means of tracking them down from here on, we either ask around whether anyone's seen something, although I'm not exactly sure anyone would talk to us even if they saw anything with that little internal war going on, or we take our chances and head back to the Skewered Dragon. Probably wont help hunting the kidnappers down though, seeing how that Floon guy got ambushed after leaving there." Gaèl begins scratching the back of his head again, a thoughtful look on his face. "Not exactly peachy odds..." "Or can anyone offer a better suggestion?"

Dylan scratches at his stubbled chin, whilst moving into the second street alongside Gaèl.   Looking around to see where he's come out he scans the streets.

Perception 16

 "I don't have any brighter ideas, unfortunately, no.  Perhaps the clientele or staff in the Skewered Dragon can give us some insight that our clue finding here has been unable to."  He looks at his old friend, "Do you think it worth quickly, or even thoroughly, searching the two houses we've just come through?  I guess there might be more clues to be found?  You always were better at this stuff than me..."

Gaèl grinns and amicably pats Dylan on the shoulder. "Oh my, stop it, you're making me blush. Don't you tell me the blokes in Neverwinter managed what noone here ever could and pummeled some modesty into that head of yours. I doubt we'll find anything interesting, it seems like they just dragged him through here rather than taking a break, but with as little on our hands as we have now, I'm surely down to try. I suggest we start with the houses, next on the list is the pub, and if all else fails we come back here for some snooping around. Unless, anyone else comes up with something better of course." and he gestures at the rest of the group.

"I feel like we're missing something here, I don't know what it is more than a gut feeling, I just feel like we're overlooking something.  It seems  strange that the two houses are merely a passageway between two streets.  I dunno," he shrugs, "I guess since the blood went straight through, it is just a passageway.  Hah, maybe Floon started putting a map of these passageways together or something.  Either way, I've got nothing better to suggest so, to the Dragon it is."

Eekz scratches his chin.

"The chuffin' dragon is nearby and Eekz could do wif sum grub."

"It is possible that these buildings were used as a smuggling route," Dra'vos suggests, "we may be able to use what little knowledge we have of this route to narrow any information we may gather at the Dragon." Dra'vos takes another look around the dusty room, "Someone there may know who once lived here or who has been seen entering and exiting recently, either could give us the next step in finding our missing person."

Sylivar shrugs. "I think heading to the Skewered Dragon is still our next best bet. Knowing this ordeal is likely faction-oriented, knowledge of a secret passage of the Zhentarim would make for solid bargaining leverage with any other faction."

Dylan looks around the group who have clearly come to a consensus, with a warm smile.  "Okay.  We are in agreement then.  Skewered Dragon it is."  He sets off with a commanding stride expecting the others to simply follow.

Gil blinks in surprise at Eekz, "Didn't you down like five chickens at the Yawning Portal like 2 hours ago?" he shakes his head and shrugs, "Ah well, Hey Silivar, wanna go to a bar?.

Gil then turns and listens to Dra'vos nodding, "That's a good point, I'm in, but first." Gil scans the area looking for a street urchin.  "Dylan, do you mind if I have someone watch the door for us?"

(Spoiler below only if Dylan agrees and if Arc says there's a nearby urchin)

Dylan nods in agreement.  "Very good idea, Gil, yes."

Thom speaks up, "Yes, this seems to be our best course of action.  And a meal is always welcome."

(Sorry, I'm having a hard time keeping up with life out of quarantine.  Thank you for your patience!)

Stepping outside into the narrow alley, gloom enfolds you.  The buildings are too tall to allow sunlight to reach down at this time of the day.  It doesn't help that someone has gone through and smashed most of the streetlamps.  With that perception check, you see a sign that says "Candle Lane," a flickering streetlamp further into the alley, and dozens of ruined buildings that seem to have some kind of foot traffic in and out of them.  You see the rain has puddled on the ground from the rain two days ago.  

Looking to your left, as you come out of the building, you see the entrance to the alley is much closer, with light streaming down about 6 houses away from you.  Gil you see a little kid with a group of four children, about eight years old, each of whom are carrying sticks about the length of their forearms.  Two of them are play fighting, trying to smack each other in the torso with their sticks without getting poked themselves.  You interrupt one of the cheering bystanders, presenting your offer of a shard.  You have all four of the children's attentions, and the one you spoke to pokes his sizable tummy out and says "Well yeah we'll watch the door for yeh.  It's gonna cost yeh a nib for each of my friends here too."  He sticks out a grubby hand.  "Deal?"

Gil nods, "Five nibs for the lot of you, sure why not." he flips a coin to each of the gathered children, "Keep an eye on the door on the other side of the passage as well." he adds assuming that the local kids know about the passage through the buildings.  "Find us when anyone uses the passage, I want good descriptions."

'As a side note, I dont like the looks of this alley, looks like a good place for an ambush, I'd recommend keeping our guard up.' he says as they start to leave (sorry, mobile is being dumb, I cant get it to unbold my text).

Perception, scanning the alley for potential foes, ambushes or traps 2

As they leave, Gil walks next to Thom dropping his voice. 

Sorry for the delay, but which way are you heading?  Are you heading left towards the improved light (and the Skewered Dragon) or right to go further into the alley?

Based on that roll, you are unable to see anything dangerous in either direction.  There are a couple people shambling around further into the alley, as well as more people in the weak light, off to your left.

(I thought we were headed left, towards the Dragon) 

Eekz heads towards the Skewered Dragon, Goblin belly rumbling.

(That's what I thought too, but I just wanted to make sure)

You leave the gloom of Candle Lane and use the newfound light to look at your map and identify the location of the Skewered Dragon, which lies only a couple cross-streets away.    You quickly are able to travel to the beat up tavern.  It looks like a ruin.  The Yawning Portal looks positively posh in comparison.  The Dragon is in ruins.  The front facing windows are smashed, with the largest window looking like someone got thrown out of it at some point.  You can see through the broken bits of glass.  Haggard patrons are all drinking from huge tankards.  It looks like all of the customers know one another.  Beyond the hanging sign, which shows a dragon's head impaled on a spear, the most significant identifying feature is an anchor which is lodged into the roof.  

Sylivar grins. "Just my kind of place. Shall we?"

Gathering his dark green shawls and hood, he makes moves to enter the bar, with about the same eagerness as the average person who hasn't indulged in something for a long time, with a slight stagger in his step that would normally mark the sauntering of an inebriated person, looking for whatever bartender or maid will take orders. Despite his outward appearance, he's rapidly and readily scanning the entrance of the bar, the surroundings, and anything that can be noticed, particularly, any kind of markings that could hint towards the presence of a guild.

Perception: 11