i don't know if this will help you but i tried talking to Nauxus first since you cant talk to Axel, after talking to nauxus when you come back to the tavern, witer will tell you that thane has woken up and asked witer to give the bloody cloth to you, which you will use to the paintings stuff, don't worry you will not continue siding with Nauxus, unless you gave him the toadstools for poison. if you also encounter the problem where you can't start the "hell's kitchen" side quest, try talking to meko first