The kenku were dead or asleep, and so the lower floor of the warehouse was secured. Chip Sword-Fitzcarraldo slapped one of the bird-people awake, and yelled at it to answer their questions. His attempt at intimidation was apparently successful, and he asked what they were doing there. The bird squawked out in a thick, half-orcish voice "Xanathar sends its regards" Squawk "Guard the warehouse". Dagrim noted, in response to this oddity, that Kenku are mimics, and can only repeat what they heard. His curiosity satisfied, Chip joined the search of the room. It was full of crate with old or abused equipment, uniforms, and supplies, none of it of any value. There were twelve bodies against the wall. Five are Zhentarim sellswords with the familiar black winged snake tattoo. The seven appear to be Xanathar thugs, with a tattoo of a circle with ten spokes radiating out of it somewhere on their bodies. Chip begins to go upstairs, but Rasool convinces him they should check out the closet first.
Inside the closet, hiding under a tarpaulin, they find a well-dressed young man who introduces himself as Renaer Nevember, son of the former Open Lord. He tells them he was attacked by Zhentarim when he was trying to get his friend Floon home. The Zhentarim questioned him about the half million dragons his father had embezzled, but Renaer didn't know anything. He and his father aren't close. They took his mourning locket. Their curiosity apparently satisfied, the party went upstairs, keeping a close eye on Renaer. The upper floor was largely empty except for a middle-aged man with the bearing of the city watch, they tensed up, but the man introduced himself as Martin Crane, and suggested they work together. Dagrim sent his bat to a nearby safehouse, asking for instructions. The crates upstairs were likewise filled with worthless items, and there was a suite of offices to the north. In the suite, they found among the rats an unused paper bird and a broken locket. Strangely, they didn't connect the locket with the locket Renaer said the Zhents had taken from him. Examining the locket, they saw that there had been something hidden in a secret compartment. They start to leave to take Renaer away until their contact tells them what to do, but he pleads that they need to find Floon. They reply that they don't know where to look for Floon, but Renaer says he heard the Xanathars taking him somewhere, and maybe the kenku knew something. In a thin, nasally voice they say "Take him to the sewers. Follow the yellow sign." Martin is able to follow the track of the Xanathar thugs to a nearby sewer grate, and they drop in to the fetid tunnel.
Following the yellow sign (a circle with ten spokes), they spend an hour trekking through the sewer when they come across a three-way intersection, guarded by a small, 8-inch diameter orb, with four eyestalks sprouting out of its body. The party surprised the gazer, but had a difficult time hitting its tiny frame. In response, the creature shot out rays of frost and telekenetic force. The ray of frost didn't connect, but the force ray slammed into first Chip and then Rasool, sending them flying across the room. But after having been weakened by a ray of frost from Chip, Dagrim was able to end the fight with Toll the Dead. Not ten minutes later, they came across the Xanatharian lair. The lair entrance was covered by two guardposts, each containing a sleeping goblin. Chip attempted to sneak by, but he tripped on his own cape, and his loud curse woke the goblin. The team was fortunately able to kill the goblin after he only rang the alarm bell once, and they continued to explore the complex.
Further in, they snuck up on a Duergar, Zemk, and his colleague Krentz, who they recognized as the thug who attacked Yagra in the Yawning Portal. Zemk and Krentz are in the process of barricading the door. Rasool is able to strike Krentz with his glaive, but the pair recover quickly, and Zemk grows to twice his usual size. Nevertheless, he is inept with his war pick, and Krentz is even more incapable, and they go down quickly. Behind the door, the party finds a puddle of gray muck oozing about, and make the wise decision to close and re-barricade the door. Further into the base, they find a larger room, where a man is being tortured by a half-orc, while a mind flayer watches from a stone chair, stroking his pet intellect devourer. They are seen, and the half-orc readies an attack while the mind flayer, Nihiloor, strides out of the room.
The fight goes against the party at first, with Marty falling to the Devourer's claws (though fortunately he avoids falling prey to its psychic attempt to take over his body). But Hank was able to do serious damage to the intellect devourer with his rapier, while a fire bolt from the half-orc went wide. Lord Cuysen was finally able to down the mage with his blade. Wounded and with Floon rescued, the party returned to the Yawning Portal. At this late hour, the tavern was nearly empty, but Volo was still there, together with Renaer keeping him company. At the sight of Floon, Renaer visibly brightened, while Volo stood up and embraced him. “I confess that I have but few coins to spare. But never let it be said that Volo reneges on a promise. Allow me to present something much more valuable.” He holds out a scroll tube. “The deed to a remarkable property here in Waterdeep! We'll need a magistrate to witness the transfer of ownership. I'll arrange a meeting with one after you've inspected the estate and deemed it satisfactory.” The deed indicated ownership of Trollskull Manor, a historic building in the North Ward. "I'll even pay the title transfer fee," Volo added generously.
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