(Offering a 'help' to increase any of Dylan's or Sylivar's tactics)

Gil looks down at the Kenku, a look of indifference on his face as he sits down (hopefully working on a short rest, please let me know if it's allowed at this point).  "I'd take the elf up on his offer here and answer his questions.  The Xanthars will kill you for this folly.  At this point your time in Waterdeep is at an end, be it by the rapier of my friend here," Gil points at Dylan, "By the hand of the Xanthar or living the new life that my other friend offers," Gil nods at Sylivar. "But, the choice is ultimately yours." Gil winces as he tends to the bolt then slumps to the floor for a few moments to collect himself.

With the kenku freeing himself, Gaèl lets out a sigh. He switches his weapon to the left hand, now holding it at the hilt as done normally. Performing a single slash through the air, he cleans the rapier of any blood remaining on the edge and sheathes it again, turning to the rest of the group. He slowly walks back to them and observes the ongoing interrogation without any further comments.

Dylan stands, glaring at the trapped birdman, letting the others offer some hope to their captive whilst instinctively understanding his role in the charade.

Eekz happily does a small jig as he moves over to the Kenku with the arrow in its head, circles the body, still doing the childish Goblin jig and then pounces on the body and rifling through the pockets. Once done, he retrieves the arrow.

Investigation: 18

Eekz, now on all fours like a feral Shadowbeast, his arch-nemesis, a master thief in its own right, growls at the bound Kenku.

"Ya were garn ter 'urt chicken givin' friends! Goblin will make ya 'urt." It was there, the inner Goblin voice acknowledged how smart Eekz actually was, not revealing their name to the enemy and also securing in the future, more chickens. "That'll do Eekz, that'll do."

Dra'vos, other than the obviously dropped shortbows and short sword, you see nothing of note.  

Syl, the kenku, hauntingly answers you in your own voice, as well with a patchwork of words from other voices, "I understand... work for... the Xanathar Guild."  It then looks at the corpses and says in a high pitched voice, "Take them out, do not let them escape!"  When you ask him about the picture and the issuer of his orders, he says in a high nasally voice, "Tie up the pretty boy in the back room!"  Then "Follow the yellow signs in the sewers..."    In a third, scratchier voice, he says, "No time to loot the place.  Just get him to the boss."

Eekz, when you jump down, the creature just looks at you in confusion.  It then looks around to you all and says, in a trembling little boy's voice, "I'm scared... please don't kill me..."  For a flash of an instant, you feel sorry for the kenku.  And then, remembering how it acquires voices, you note that the boy must have been talking to the kenku when it uttered those words.

(Eekz, you dig through the bird's pouches, and are disappointed to discover nothing.  However, as you turn over the body, a grand grin spreads across your face as you notice a tarnished copper key.)

Gil blinks from his rest as the Kenku answers Syl, "The yellow signs in the sewers?  The Yellow Sewers . . . " He trails off deep in thought then starts a rhythmic chant . . . 

"Follow the yellow dank hole, follow the yellow dank hole, Weeeeee're off to see the Xanthars, the treacherous Xanthars with flaws, because because because because becaaaaaaause . . . because of the horrible things they cause, la da da da da da daaaaaa, we're off to see the Xanthars, to rescue our friend from their maws."

Dylan raises an eyebrow as he looks at Gil.

"Anyway...what can we glean from this?  It seems to me this birdman is just mimicking what he has heard.  That said, perhaps we can extract some useful into from it.  The sewers do seem to be a good next stop though.  I wonder where the nearest entrance to the sewers are from here?"

Sylivar heads towards the rooms of the facility, opening them and looking for any trails or markings that signify a man being bound or held hostage.

Sylivar will then mention for the group to move out of earshot of the Kenku for a moment, and will proceed to whisper, "If the Xanathars have Floon, they will want him for some reason. This Kenku can replicate messages exactly. Do you think there is a possibility we can use the Kenku as a messenger and barter a form of trade of sorts with the Xanathars?"

"Goblin found a key!" Eekz announces to the party.

“A key?  A key to what?  Perhaps a thorough search is in order?”

With the kenku having answered now, Gaèl scratches the back of his head, an apologetic look on his face. "Sorry to disappoint guys, but the other one managed to sneak away. So whatever we do, we better do it fast. Before the guild starts sending out scouts or reinforcements..."

Dra'vos stops looking through the bodies for a moment and gives Gil an odd look at his song before continuing.

"Aside from the key Eekz found I am not see anything important," Dra'vos sighs. "But I agree with Gaèl we should leave here before Xanathar sends any reinforcements."

"An exchange?!"  The kenku squawks in a largely amused voice, then says in a grumbly voice that is accompanied by a slamming sound, "What'll ya have?  Perhaps I can interest you in *the voice changes to a lilting woman's voice* information?"

At this point, you hear a loud crash, as of something falling from the direction of the stairs.  You hear a muffled sound, "Hello? Is anyone there?  Hello?"

Sylivar will head towards the origin of the sound. "Hello?"

Gil looks up curiously as he continues his short rest, "Huh, I wonder what's in the rest of the crates, sounds like at least one of them has a person."

Dylan will join Sylivar in seeking out the origin of the voice.

Your search, made easy by the calls for help quickly leads you to a storage closet located underneath the staircase.  It reeks of sour fish and vinegar.  The door hangs loosely on broken hinges.  Looking around, you see discarded ropes, canvas tarpaulins, and splintered wood from smashed barrels.  Hiding among the wreckage is a young man wearing fine clothing.  Upon seeing you, he looks at you and says, "Thank Elysium, I thought I was a goner."  He looks around, sizing you up, and then looks over at the corpses and dead kenku.  "Lord...  What happened here?  And who are you?"  He looks around and says, "Regardless, I thank you for my freedom.  My name is Renaer Neverember."

Dylan blinks in incredulity.  "My lord?  Oh my goodness.  Are you okay?  We need to get you out of here.  My name is Dylan Bladebender of Waterdeep.  But I spent many a year recently in and around your father's city of Neverwinter.  I'll make sure we get you to safety.  Can you walk?"

GIl blinks in shock, sitting up as the voice announces itself, "Holy shit!  We've got to get out of here, this just got a lot deeper." he quickly pulls his stuff, his rest complete as his eyes dart around the room warrily.

Eekz slowly crawls back into the shadows at the sudden appearance of a stranger.

Stealth: 11