Chapter 1: A Friend in Need

Butler finds the key fits perfectly into the door. The heavy door opens smoothly on well-oiled hinges to reveal a small suite of offices. A window looks out onto another crammed alley, providing reasonable light here. The offices are clean and well-kept, with a variety of ledgers and paperwork that at first glance does not look out of place in a warehouse. There is also a map of Waterdeep pinned to the wall with some markings on it.

Above the door of each office inside is a silver bell. Opening the doors do not seem to trigger any of the bells, yet each bell is anchored to a pull cord that all disappear into the wooden walls of the building, all leading west.

In the west-most office, you also find a wall-mounted banner that features Zhentarim symbolism. It is on worn cloth and looks aged.

Prince joins Butler upstairs. "Guess who comes when those little bells are rung? Best not touch them." He then studies the map, but is unable to make any sense of it.

Updated map of the Zhent warehouse, including the newly-unlocked office space:

Prince examines the map but he's too new to Waterdeep to know much about the locations they indicate. They are geographically isolated to the southeast side of the city. Nothing stopping you from visiting them, though.

Xelia grasps Alatriona’s arm to steady herself. "Shall we join the boys?"

Alastriona dutifully accompanies Xelia. As she provides escort, she gives a silent look at Renaer and Stitches (if Stitches is remaining downstairs) and tips her head to the prisoner, implying that they watch over the Xanathar kenku.

When Xelia and Alstriona arrive, they encounter the same tidy office rooms and artifacts.

Alastriona reaches up with her sickle and cuts one of the cords holding a bell, catching the silver object in her other hand. She turns the bell over in her hand, inspects the clapper, and finally tucks it into her jacket.

The hemp pull cord slices easily to Alastriona's sickle. It goes slack and dangles from the hole in the wall.

The bell is elegantly constructed, and has a signature stamp on the inside from the smith that made it:

Krabbellor Silversmiths
Weeping Maiden’s Run & Grocer’s Lane

Vatra keeps a close eye on the kenku prisoner with Stitches. While doing so he slowly begins searching bodies.

Xelia walks over to the desk, examining the ledgers and paperwork with interest.

Out in the yard, Vatra notes the stockpile of loot taken from the bodies.

Stitches, Vatra, and Renaer suddenly hear the sound of boots marching up the cobblestone lane, approaching at the pace of a brisk walk.

Xelia notices the ledgers are meticulously kept. Two days ago, an entry enitlted 'Special Delivery' coincides with Floon and Renaer's kidnapping. One day prior to that, it lists a set of valuable paintings and fifteen 10 lbs. silver trade bars - worth 50gp each - being delivered, and locked in "the box."

Princetakes down the map. "You think this will be useful?" he asks Xelia.

"Anything can be useful to the right person, my dear." She looks at the map briefly before her right ear begins to twitch. She cocks her head to the side quizzically.

Alastriona catches the glance and turns her full attention away from the other bells.

As a Waterdhavian and courtier, a couple of things stand out to Xelia that might escape others.

1. The markings are clustered in the Dock Ward (the ward you currently are in) close to the water and along the edge of the Southern Ward. This is a place known for fish hawkers, marine supply stores (net weavers, sail menders and such), and press-ganging.
2. Most of the markings indicate buildings, but one marking is in the middle of Spices Street.

(a short paragraph on each ward of Waterdeep can be found here)

Upon hearing the approaching footsteps, Stitches quickly dons one of the dead kenkus' tunics. He turns back toward the interior of the warehouse and lets loose a deep, rumbling bark, like a large dog, to alert the others. Then he crouches near a window and peers outside to see who's coming.

You do see a few people milling about outside the office windows but they look like ordinary citizens. The windows don't look out onto the yard though, so you don't feel particularly comforted by this.