He holds her gaze, waiting for her words. Much to his surprised, she directly agreed with the trade.

“She fights together with kobolds implanted with an explosive that detonates after the death.” He started by sharing the first fact he enumerated. “Most of times the explosion is preceded by a tickling sound, but one of them exploded immediately after dying so don’t fight close, even if it would be more effective or make sure to throw them away with you attacks, unless you want to die with them.”

 Then she showed the first piece of paper.

“She can use the spell Fog Cloud and keep more than a Cloud active at the same time.” He said as Emberwind showed a second piece of a burnt note. “Cut her scape routes and beware the chance that she can see through the enchantment.”

 The last words he said for himself as much for Yinra. It was something to keep in mind, should them meet the Goliath.

“Finally”, he started as she showed the last piece, “we are keeping her location tracked by having my familiar, an owl, following her.”

Then he expected her to say that he lied to her, which was not true. After all, he said he was going to tell how the group was tracking Zabriss, not that by knowing that Emberwind could track the fugitive herself. Instead, the elf used the Wizard help as they put the note together the best they could.

“And you my thanks, pretty girl.” He said smiling at her. His mind fixated in a single burn word - comm. “Sneaky way of saying that I owe you a drink when I get my reward.”

 
Notes:

@ Party: Guess we don’t need to worry about the papers anymore. xD

@DM, sent you a PM and edited my previous posts to correct the instances when I refer to Yinra as a half-elf. I think I made this mistake because I was so worried with Korgin when I first mentioned Yinra that thought she was, like him, a half. Should’ve paid more attention to the narration. Mea culpa.

As they inspect the ruined cell, Finn, Ambre, and Josias make the following discoveries:

1) The blast that destroyed the wall came from inside the cell. It appears that multiple simultaneous explosions at fixed points on the wall led to its collapse.

2) The overturned bed is scorched on one side, and appears to have been manipulated to act as a defensive barrier against the blast. A jagged, fist-sized shard of bronze is stuck in the bed; it reeks of sulfur and blasting power and it does not match any other object in the room.

3) Something catches your eyes beneath a section of loose rubble. Working together, you move the debris aside and discover what appears to be the remains of a strange, flat, dinner plate-sized automaton. It appears to be made of iron, resembles a crab, and is damaged beyond the point of functionality. It is small enough that it would have fit through the cell's thin skylight.

Quill moves over to see what the others have discovered after Yinra leaves, "Well now that looks interesting and is probably the biggest clue we are going to find here. If we can discover who made that we can probably find out who broke the goliath out of prison and possibly why."

"Can't be too many people in town who could make something like this. Seems pretty intricate."

Ambre picks up the contraption, very giddy. "Oh this is awesome!"

Sergeant Korgin steps forward, inspecting the contraption. "Woah. Never seen anything like that before... but you're right, there's few in Hupperdook who could make something like that. I bet Master Maker Cleff Tinkertop or his daughter may know a thing or two about it. He's usually working in the Builder's Lot by day, but since it's late, you could probably find him at the Sootswallow Lodge. It's a tavern, not too far from here."

Fritz approached the group and after they presented their findings he conveyed the contents of the papers Yinra had showed him. Worry visible as he passed the information.

 “Out of the entire note it was the word ‘comm’ that draws my attention. It could mean communication or commander. The latter more likely, and worrying. It would mean that whoever commanded the kobolds was an ally to the Kryn and either knew how to use Hupperdook technology or had with them someone who knew. It would mean that the enemy now have weapons of the Empire.”

 As he fell in silence the wizard arched his arms and pressed his hands, one upon the other, over his chest. The purple crustal he used as arcane focus under the right palm. He them murmured the words of the Mage Armor spell.

“More battles to come, right?” He asked rhetorically. “To the Sootswallow Lodge?”

"Lead the way." Quill says as he follows along with Fritz, keeping an eye on anyone paying them any particular attention.

Perception: 20

“I think it’s better if Ambre take us there.” He said a little bit surprised when Quill told him to lead the way, but then the Tabaxi had no way of knowing that the strange night was the first time Fritz had ever been in that industrious city.

He still hoped the shooter would show him were to find components, specialized paper and ink for spells. Assuming they would be alive at the end of their recently found mission. An agent of the Dynasty, stolen technology from Hupperdook, exploding kobolds in groups and a Goliath who could cast spells in an abnormal manner. The more he thought about the worse things looked. But what truly worried him the most was the fact that somewhere, deep into his mind, he could help but to thing of the entire chaos as a ladder. An opportunity to make his name. It certainly was the closest thing to real chance he had to prove his mettle and enter the Academy since leaving home. Just as much as it is the bane of so many, he said to himself with the voice of his mind.

“After you.” He talked looking at Ambre.

"Before we go..." Finn blurts out, "Is there a way onto the roof near the skylight? As the blast came from inside the cell, someone likely dropped the explosives from above. Perhaps they left some additional clues."

"Good point, let me go check." As Quill bounds up the side of the bldg to take a look at the roof and then will secure a rope so anyone else who wants to climb up can come take a look.

Perception: 14

Investigation: 5

"Alright," Ambre says, carefully putting the device away. "So to Stootswallow Ledge, then we'll see what time it is because I don't know about you but I really don't want to be going out searching for this person in the dead of night so we might want to wait till morning."

Quill scales the roof and finds the skylight of the destroyed cell. It appears that a set of muddy tracks surround the skylight. The red mud matches the kind that was noticed on the feet of the kobolds that tried to kill you in the streets. One of them must have come up here.

Between the suggestions of both Finn and Ambre as well as Quill’s climbing, Fritz remained in silence. There was a sense of security in having the Mage’s Armor over his body, but he was starting to feel increasingly worried about Hans absence. Sure, it hadn’t been that long since their fight and Zabriss was probably still making her way to wherever her hideout was, but he still feared the familiar could have been shot down.

 “I could use some respite” He started thinking about Arcane Recovery. It would be good to have as many spells available as possible. “But our Goliath is allied with the Kryn, just like whoever helped her. If we take too much time to give chase, she may gain too much of a distance, get to Xhorhas.” The Wizard then points to the exploded wall. “If she escapes much of the Empire can end up like that, Hupperdook included. We should keep the search.”

Fritz hoped the argument was enough to convince the shooter. Her and the others.

“Did you find something, Quill?” He shouts to the Tabaxi, while rising his head.

Josias simply watches the others before responding to Fritz. "If you need a rest we should take one. Rushing until you blindly stumble into something you can't handle won't help anyone. Besides, I don't think she's the one with these explosives, or the Dynasty. Feels like a third party to me."

"I found nothing but the obvious, just some tracks from at least one kobold with that reddish mud on their feet but nothing else. We could all use some rest before we continue on so we should find lodging near our destination and then in the morning we can go from there." Quill says after he climbs down.

You all bid Sergeant Korgin farewell and make your way to the Sootswallow Lodge. It's getting late into the night, and the hubbub from the Idleworks Shelf above does not roar quite as loudly as people start to turn in for the evening. It's at this time you notice that Lani mentions she has urgent business to attend to in the upper city and must leave you, but promises to return if she is able. You bid her farewell just as you turn the corner toward Sootswallow.

Things are still somewhat lively at the Lodge, however. In this squat taphouse, off-duty workers and shady-looking figures swap stories and conversation over mugs of dark ale. At the bar you spot an older-looking gnome man with patches of white hair, a long, pointed white beard, and thick spectacles sitting next to a younger gnome woman with a mop of curly reddish-brown hair on her head. Both are dressed in work clothes that Ambre recognizes as Assembly Yard tinkerer's uniforms. They appear to be chatting with a burly dwarf warrior whose skin is covered in tattoos.

"No, young man, I'm afraid I haven't the foggiest idea who this person you're after must be... Sounds like a mean piece of work, though, especially if they're employing our own blasting powder in their nasty deeds... Although..." The old gnome says, taking a swig of his ale. Some of the froth clings to his beard. The girl at his side catches you all walking in, and her eyes drift to the strange contraption in your hands that you discovered at the prison.

"Dad," She hisses, hitting her dad on the arm and pointing towards all of you. "Look!"

"Well, now..." He hums, stroking his beard. "Young man, I think we may have just found you a lead... Come on over here, you lot! Let an old man buy you a drink in exchange for a gander at that peculiar device... I need to confirm a suspicion."

(@Beginner_Bots feel free to describe and introduce your character!)

Sitting next to the older Gnome man is a, what you can assume, is a middle aged Dwarf. From the back, you'd see a balding Dwarf with white skin. His skin broken up with scars and dark blue tattoos. As he turns around to see everyone enter, you'd see a long light brown beard, braided and extending down to his belly button. He wears a kilt fashioned with a large bronze buckle, a waterskin fashioned from an animal skull hangs from his side and a large Dwarven made Warhammer rests next to him.

The Dwarf looks back to the Gnome after glancing over the others and in a deep, rough voice says. "What do you mean lead? You think these people know about the escapee, or my lost supplies for that matter?"

Josias walks over to the bar. "If you're looking to hunt the escapee then you're about third in line at this point. And we're not giving away what we know for free."

Does the Dwarf think that Josiss actually knows something?

Insight: 16