waterdeep dragon heist

A character with thieves' tools can pick the lock on a
door or the window with a successful DC^10 Dexterity
check. Characters who enter quietly can try to catch the
kenku by surprise. If the characters knock before en-
tering or announce their a r rival in some other way, the
kenku hide as described above.

Tables and chairs have been carelessly tossed across the

floor. The corpses of a dozen men lie along the walls,

their rapiers and daggers lying nearby. On the north side

of the area, stairs rise to an open level above.

If the kenku aren't hidden, add:

Four short, avian creatures with long beaks and black

feathers look over in surprise from where they stand in

the middle of the warehouse. Each wears a hooded cloak

and wields a shortsword.

The corpses belong to five human Zhentarim sellswords

(the same ones who kidnapped Floon and Renaer) and

seven human Xanathar Guild thugs, all of them clad in

leather armor. Each Zhent has a black tattoo of a winged

snake on his neck or forearm, and one of the Xanathar

Guild members has a black tattoo on the palm of his

right hand that looks like a circle with ten spokes radiat-

ing out from its circumference (the symbol of Xanathar).

The kenku fight until two of them are incapacitated or

killed, whereupon the survivors try to nee. A successful

DC 10 Charisma (Intimidation) check forces captured

kenku to divulge what they know.

WHAT THE KEN KU KNOW

When kenku speak, they mimic sounds and voices they

have heard before. Under interrogation, they repeat the

following phrases:

In a deep voice with an orcish accent: "Xanathar

sends its regards.,.

• In a th in, nasally voice: "Tie up the pretty boy in the
  back room!" and "Follow the yellow signs in t he sew-
  ers." (This remark refers to tunnels in the sewers that
  are marked with Xanathar's symbol where they lead
  to the Xanathar Guild hideout.)


• In a scratchy voice: "No time to loot the place.just get
  him to the boss."

Z2. STORAGE CLOSET

The door to this back room hangs loosely on broken

hinges. The cramped chamber beyond smells strongly

of sour fish and vinegar. It is filled with discarded ropes.

canvas tarpaulins, and splintered wood from smashed

barrels. Renaer Neverember (see appendix B) is hjding

here, having slipped free of his rope bonds. The charac-

ters can hear his ragged breathing coming fr om under a

tarpaulin at the north end of the room.

ROLEPLAYING RENAER

Renaer is unarmed. Marred by grime and the lingering

stench of rancid pickled herring, he speaks with grace

and articulation, as befits his noble upbringing. His trust

is easily gained but impossible to restore once broken.

CHAPTER I I A FRIEND IN NEED