Morgan sits back as the group, one-by-one, agree to help find this friend of the old chronicler.  He considers the bar fight, the troll, and how boring his life has been of late...

"I'll come with as well."  Morgan finally says.  "Wouldn't hurt to have a noble on this task, to help smooth things over once the officials get involved."  He glances to Rashar.  "I'll pay you the extra five now, but you'll have to do with the bonus from Volo once it is done."

Rashar shakes his head and replies to Morgan. "Thank you for the offer, Morgan, but I must gracefully refuse. If I am to be paid, it should be the same pay all of us are receiving." 

Volo smiles warmly, reaching over to his stack of books to retrieve a copy of his book. "If you're able to find my friend Floon and return him safe and sound, then I'll be delighted to provide a signed copy of my book."

Volo sets the book back down and looks onto the heroes. "Do we have a deal? If so, then I'd suggest beginning your search at the Skewered Dragon. It's in the Dock Ward, facing an alley between Net Street and Fillet Lane." Volo concludes.

It would take approximately an hour to walk from the Yawning Portal to the Skewered Dragon.

"As long as we still get the gold rather than just the book,  fine.  Let's get going." Cath says.   You get the impression Cath isn't a big fan of Volo.

"I am in" Mardak says looking at the others "I could use the extra money for my future plans and next to that, some excitement would not be bad!" Mardak leans back and ponders for a moment "The Skewered Dragon? Hmmm..."

-ooc-
Mardak tries to recall anything special he might have read about the tavern. History 25

There's not much that Mardak can recall of the Skewered Dragon that's note-worthy. He knows it's a tavern in the bad part of town and it attracts the sketchy types. He may realize that Floon being kidnapped at the Skewered Dragon would be quite plausible.

"No time like the present. Though is everyone alright and ready to head out, or need a breather after that fight? After the last encounter, we may experience...reticence from the patrons of the Skewered Dragon."

(OOC): I’m happy to move on, just wondering what time it is approximately at the moment?

Rashar nods. 

“I’m in. We should make haste. After all, the longer someone remains missing, the more likely they will be never found again.” 

He turns to Krivnaar. “What do you know about the Dock Ward? You mentioned helping out that one dwarf who lived there. I haven’t been down there much- though I’ve heard it was exceptionally dirty, smelly, and dangerous.”

"The dock ward is the domain of cutpurses, rifraf and bandits."  Morgan says with disdain.  He pushes up from the table.  "Let us go and see about this friend of Volo's before we end up finding the trail too cold to follow."  He nods to Volo as he glances to the others of the group.

"Morgan isn't wrong about the criminal elements. But folk there aren't all ne'er-do-wells, mind. Most just try to make ends meet, best they can." He looks at the group, eager to depart. "It is true, best to move quickly in case our leads dry up." He rises, and makes to depart.

Mardak stands up and straightens his robes. He looks around the Tavern and then to his companions. 

”Let us brave this cold”

Volo wishes the adventurers well as he distributes 10 dragon pieces (gp) to each adventurer. The group vacate the Yawning Portal together and step onto the street. Albeit it Winter season, it hasn't snowed today so traffic won't be slow and they won't be hindered on their venture. It's quite chilly so double-layer clothing is definitely in order. It's approximately 1 pm in the afternoon as the adventurers spend the next hour traversing down Snail Street.

Party's path of travel is represented by my poorly drawn blue line.

The party get to a three way intersection as they continue walking down Snail Street. They stop at the junction of Shrimp Alley and Presper Street. As you turn a corner, you find yourselves on a street that has been cordoned off by the City Watch. Lying on the cobblestones are a half-dozen corpses, seemingly the victims of some terrible skirmish. Watch officers have disarmed and arrested three blood-drenched humans and are in the midst of questioning witnesses. One of the officers sees you. “Get on,” she says. “Nothing to see here.”

Rashar is taken aback by the scene, belonging more on a battlefield than the streets of Waterdeep. He approaches the Watch officer. 

“Good afternoon, Officer. As a concerned citizen, I would like to know what has happened here.”

Perusasion: 6

He turns to Krivnaar and points to witnesses that are in the midst of being questioned. 

“I think your expertise can be of use here.”

Before leaving the Yawning Portal

"So, Volo, you got a description of your friend Floon, what he was wearing, human?  Dwarf?  A name's not much to go on if we want to see if people have seen him."  Cath asks

Volo grins. "Floon is a handsome man. I'd say he's in his early thirties. He was wearing a princely garb when I met him at the Skewered Dragon. He also has wavey red-blonde hair."

The City Watch Officer looks upon Rashar. "I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to disclose much information. As we can gather, appears to have been a gang war between the Zhentarim and Xanathar's Guild." The officer concludes. "Wagons are expected to arrive any moment, we cannot have the street congested. If you were passing through here, please take a detour." The officer suggests, as he assumes they were traversing down Snail Street.

The party will be able to deduce they'll have to move back and take a trip down Trollcrook Alley and then get onto Zastrow Street in order to get to Fillet Lane; which is where the Skewered Dragon is.

"No loss to the city there then if they are killing each other off.  We'll move along."  Cath decidedly has no interest in entangling himself with the city guard

"Are there any suspects you've arrested...?" Krivnaar inquires of the watch, as he tries to get a better look at the scene.

Perception: 19

Krivnaar is only able to discern that the suspects appear to fit the bill. Some of them having flying snake tattoos, which is the insignia of the Zhentarim. The others having the eye stalks, which is the emblem for the Xanathar's.

The officer urges the party along. "We can't answer any more questions at this time. Please take a detour." the city watchman says with a dismissive tone.

Suddenly, one of the Zhentarim suspects makes a run for it while the officers are distracted. "Hey!" one of the officers shouts as they hear the Zhent dashing away. The thug happens to be running North of Snail Street, so he'll be running past the adventurers.

Morgan frowns as the watch tells them to go a different way.  He considers if it is worth pushing it, as he doubts if anyone, in their right mind, would stop a noble of the city from walking where he wishes, but decides it is not really worth it.  He gives an amused grunt as he thinks of how pleased his family would be that he is starting to think things through before acting.

As the thug starts to make a break for it though he steps into the man's path, a solid wall of barbarian noble between the man and any chance of escape.