The siblings beam as they take their gifts. "Thanks, Ammie!" They both say, almost in unison. Pavel digs into his sweets with the gusto of a boy half his age, while Tana flicks through the pages of the books while taking a deep breath in. "Gosh, isn't that new book smell just the best?" She giggles, pushing her drooping glasses back up her nose. "Oh, Ammie, were you and your friends gonna stay here? There's room for you, of course, but the others may be a tight fit..."

"Hey, look who's home in time for some fireworks!" Another voice calls out from the porch. Two human men step out of the house and off the porch. The older wears a smith's smock and gloves, while the younger appears to be in vestments of some kind. The older one continues speaking. "Welcome back, Ambre. Brought some friends, did you? Come on, all of you, let's head to the porch and get this show on the road. Oh, by the way I'm Grigor Rotz, Ambre's uncle, and this is Fodel, Ambre's brother."

"Hi," the young man murmurs with a nod. He looks a little closer in age to Ambre than the others do. You're all guided to the porch by the various Rotz family members, who chat with you for a time before Tana breaks off from a conversation with Fritz to grab Pavel, currently in the process of inspecting and commenting on the skilled craftsmanship of Bjorn and Finn's weapons and armor. The two then head over to the firework rig. 

"O-okay, everyone! Time for the Tana fireworks extravaganza, brought to you by... me, Tana, and of course my lovely assistant Pavel! Here we go! In five... four... three... two... one!" At the end of the countdown, the two siblings light the fuses and run back to the porch. After a short while, the rig fires of a series of glowing rockets into the sky, and they explode in a rainbow of color against the dark night sky. You hear cheers coming from the busier area of the shelf. Grigor smiles at Pavel and Tana as they go and run for more fireworks.

"It's not often that they get to see some new faces. Reminds me of when they were kids, eh Am?" Grigor sighs. "I wish your mom and Olma were here too, but you know them. Haven't been big fans of the firework since ... Anyway, you all planning on spending the night? There's a spare guest room available, plus a couch and some somewhat-comfortable chairs. We're not exactly the best bed and breakfast in Hupperdook, but at least we're cheap! What have you all been up to anyway?"

Josias looks at the wooden porch. "I could honestly sleep out here. It's honestly nicer than what I'm used too. As long as it doesn't rain."

"I'm fine with a chair... Much appreciated." Bjorn says respectfully.

Finn smiles graciously, "Most of us have been sleeping on the road for a good while now. These accommodations are quite comfortable to my eye."

Quill nods his thanks and heads to a corner dragging a chair with him and then sits down, thankful to be inside for the night.

Once Ambre is sure her younger siblings are out of earshot, she explains what's happened in the lower city. "It's so strange. I didn't even know they caught any spies from the Dynasty. Though I suppose they would want to keep things like that under wraps. In the morning we're going to see if we can investigate a couple of leads."

"We acquired knowledge that the mud is from the long-dormant volcanic peaks of the Silberquel Ridge, a bit of travel form here. We also have a potential contact with the lady as she offered us discounts on healing potions if we did something for her. I offered her our services as I was pretty sure none of you would mind. So once we are done with this business we can take care of her request." Quill says.

He watched in silence ad Ambre’s family talked amongst themselves and with some of his companions. When spoked to the usually eloquent wizard limits himself to nods and grunts. By the time they arrived on the firework rings he was almost convinced that Blath was not in home. Nothing to be surprised, after all the man used to travel to Nogvurot to talk business. Stood to reason the inventor would still move around dealing in business.

Being too lost in his thoughts, Fritz could not fully appreciate the fireworks display. He was brought back to reality by Grirgor’s words, offering the group a place to stay. 

“Anything’s fine.” He answers soon after Finnegan speaks. Indeed, compared to the cold ground where they slept for most of the travel from Zadash, even a chair was a luxury worth of royal blood. Gods, even the floor would make for warmer bed.

Fritz waited for each of his companions to decide their place of rest and before long Quill brought forth his finds on the Lay of the Land. Normally he would have answered telling what he, Ambre and Bjornn found at the Firemark Facility and posed one or theories of his own, but instead he looked at the dwarf and the human, quiet.

(Sorry for the delay, everyone, let's get back to it!)

Grigor grunts. "Well, sounds like you're all wrapped up in some dangerous business. Be careful, Am. I know you can handle yourself, but... if the Dynasty's involved, it can't be good. Anyway, let's finish up these fireworks and head to bed, huh? We'll set up some spots for your friends."

The rest of the night passes peacefully as fireworks roar, Ambre's siblings laugh, and eventually you all settle down into a deep sleep.

The next day...

You all awaken to the noisy din of industry that echoes up from beneath the Idleworks Shelf and prepare for another day of hunting for the lost fugitive. Ambre's family serves you some breakfast, and you meet the other two members you missed last night: Her mother, Natali, and her younger sister, Olma. You set out after breakfast as each of the Rotz family head off to their respective jobs for the day, wishing all of you luck in your quest. At around the same time, a familiar owl swoops down out of the sky and hovers before Fritz, eventually perching on his arm and staring at him. 

He greeted the sleep in silence, sitting in a chair, hooded as if to avoid any light. Fritz had hoped to meet Tadriel that night, seek her counsel about what to do. Maybe he was being a fool, worrying too much about being recognized. Sure, it could be dangerous if certain people knew about him, but it was not like he was a wanted criminal. Alas the morning came with no word from his guide.

Back to his senses, the first thing the wizard did was study his spellbook. He revised the same spells from the day before and, after finishing, took out his arcane focus, a shard of lilac crystal tied to a brown leather string. Holding it in his right palm, he pressed his hands, one upon the other, over his chest, once again casting his Mage Armor.

There was time for a brief meditation before the breakfast, and so Fritz recovered his energies from the use of the spell before following his new friends to the table. Still hooded, he was about to start his meal when he felt Hans’ presence. In response he raised his right arm, where the owl took place. Hello, old friend. He says telepathically to the familiar. Tell me, what did you find? 

Notes:

Fritz casts Mage Armor on himself and then takes uses Arcane Recovery to regain the spell slot. His question is also a kind of mental command for Hans to telepathically tell him what the owl found.

Josias wakes up with the sun and sits outside, watching it rise. He then spends a long while sitting with his legs crossed just repeating a series of phrases in Marquesian. Anyone watching closely can see that the cracked skin of his right side seems to glow strangely. When he's done he stands and steps inside. "We should get moving before that woman beats us to all the clues."

Quill wakes with the morning light, stretching to work all the kinks out of is back. Then joins the rest for breakfast. "I see you owl is back, what does it have to say?"

When Ambre wakes up with the dawn, she goes out to the workshop to do some simple prep work for her uncle before the rest are awake. By the time breakfast is ready, she's joking with her brothers and sisters. "I think we should go visit the missing gnome," she says. "See if we can get to the bottom of that mystery."

The owl perches on Fritz's forearm. Hans projects their thoughts into the wizard's mind.

Apologies, I could not find you last night. Unfortunately, I lost the fugitive, but I did spot more kobolds sneaking into and out of a house down below. I believe they are using it as a sort of base. Perhaps more information can be found there.

Hans words echoed in his mind as Quill asks about the familiar’s findings. Sadly, the owl did not manage to follow the goliath. Maybe she magi to evade the celestial’s eyes. She did seem capable to ignore quite a few of the normal limitations inherent to the Fog Cloud spell, it wouldn’t be strange if she could use it an unlimited number of times. Ether that or Sken Zabriss could somehow outspeed the wings of a raptor.  Another spell? Fritz pondered, ever so careful to not let his thought bleed into the bird of prey.

“The fugitive managed to escape even him. I’m guessing she can do more magic than creating fog.” With each passing moment it seemed more evident that defeating that woman wouldn’t be easy. “He did see kobolds leaving a house. We can check it for clues after taking a look at Nima Cirramid’s place.”

Fritz spoke in accordance with Ambre’s plan. If his suspicions were right them the artisan’s abode would lead them to Huron Stahlmast. Otherwise, there was now a new lead. And you don’t need to apologize, my old friend. He said telepathically to Hans. I know you did your best. He always did, such was the nature of the familiar.

“Ready when you are.”

Ambre nods and picks up her bag, "Let's get going then. Things will probably be a lot busier and louder though, so let's all stay close."

You all head out and back to the familiar winch lift that brings you down to Lower Hupperdook. In the workshops and foundries below, you hear the clanging of machinery and the shouts of workers as the artisans, craftsmen, and laborers of Hupperdook work on the latest siege engines and war machines that will fuel the Imperial war effort against the Kryn Dynasty. Traveling to the north end of the Ironlot, you approach the humble abode that Sleese Firemark directed you toward. The green-painted wooden walls are streaked with dirt washed down by the rain. A sign hanging on the front door reads: “Sickness within. Do not disturb.” Curtains at the windows all appear to be closed. Hans sends a telepathic projection to Fritz:

How convenient; this was the very house I saw the kobolds coming in and out of. 

As the Rotz’s family house left their field of vision, Fritz removed his hood. He walked in silence, checking with Hans time and again if they were being followed. After the sudden battle of the last night, the wizard was a little bit more than worried about new sudden confrontations. It was, after all, the reason why he casted Mage Armor soon after waking.

Thanks to the Changebringer there was no more attacks or prison breaks. Instead, the way to the lower city, where Nima Cirramid’s home was supposed to be, according to Firemark at least, was calm. Or as calm as any moment can be in the noisy city of Hupperdook. The greatest surprise he had was when approaching the humble abode. Hans, almost immediately told him that there was the place where saw kobolds. Thank you, old friend.

“Ok, guys, wait a moment.” He says before any of his companions could reach the door. “Hans just told me that this is the home from which he saw kobolds running. Which means that we may found some exploding lizards there, which in turn bids the question if we should knock or just bring down the door assuming we are going to be attacked as soon as we cross the header.”

"I say a good old fashioned boarding. Quick, before they're prepared to counter." Josias begins to casually circle the house looking for other ways inside, such as a back door or windows large enough to climb through.

There are four small windows built into the east and west walls of the house. Their curtains are drawn and they appear to be locked. There is no back door to be found. It seems the only direct entrance is through the front door.