Murph frowns, and watches the automata in the front windows, wondering if they seem to be following rote, random movements on watch, or if they seem to be bustling about with more sentience.

Are the attic windows on the store, or the adjoining house? If on the storefront, are they accessible at all, and large enough to allow a small gnome inside?

The attic windows are on the adjoining house, but definitely large enough to pass inside. As you observe the automata, you get the sense that the smaller of the two is also the less developed of them both, with movements that are more erratic and an overall less controlled appearance. The larger one seems far more lifelike, and for a moment you fancy yourself noticing a few quirks in the movements of the machine that almost seem to hint at a personality. It shocks you to realise that these machines are likely somewhat aware of their suroundings, but completely trapped in the showcase.

“Looks pretty generic and could fit anyone...” Finally breaking the silence, Blair would muse quietly out loud for Dart to hear. She’d glance down to the halfling at her side, “Darling, it’s your call.” The redhead would shift her weight to the other foot as she’d wait for him to make his decision. She was comfortable with continuing forward with him if he wanted too, but if he wanted to try his own alternative route, or not go at all, that was fine too. At least for her, it seemed safe enough to pass.

Murph first tries to open an attic window to peek inside, looking for a crawlspace that connects back to above the shop. 

Stealth: 26
Thieves tools: 15
Investigation: 12

Murph, you manage to get onto the roof and into the attic with ease, but unfortunately, it looks like the attic is only that, and as you reach the end of the attic, you look out onto the roof of the shop about two or three feet below you. You might be able to find a connection between a room lower in the building, but up here you have no such luck.

Anything interesting stored in the attic? Murph just takes a few furtive looks, nothing extensive. Then he leaves and goes to the roof of the shop, looking for loose roof tiles or thatch or anything that might be gently pried open to permit access from the top.

The attic seems to be a storage space for the residents below, and you find plenty of boxes and half-open trunks filled with old clothes. In a corner you see a cobwebbed broom, and some dirty gardening tools, while in another you can make out the shape of a wooden rocking horse, covered with a stained blanket. The space seems to be filled with memorabilia and objects no longer in use, but dear enough not to be thrown away.

Getting back onto the roof and lowering yourself onto the tailor's shop is easy enough, but looking around, the shingles are well made, and there is no obvious point where you could pry some loose to get inside. The only point of entry on this roof seems to be the chimney, unless you are willing to break your way through the roof with force.

Murph climbs up and takes a look down the chimney, feeling for smoke and heat. If it seems clear he will try to get a sense of how easy it would be to climb down it. 

(The chimney is shared by the store and the home, right?)

Not having an alternative plan for getting into the city. I press forward with Blair. Hoping for the best. 

One moment Dart was tagging along with her, the next he was gone. The halfling snuck out from under her nose. Blair couldn’t help but smirk to herself. Feeling as though it would be best to give him space to do his own thing, she’d pause for a few moments before continuing on through the line as a crowd member. 

Performance was it?: 22 

Making your way through the gate, you notice the guards look intently at Parker a few paces behind you. As they start studying his face, Blair feels a slight brush against her hand as he pushes forward and places something in her hand before drifting back into the crowd. Before you, two of the guards reach for the heavy clubs on their belts to make their way through the crowd, as you quickly dart to the side to let them through: 

"Hey! Stop, in the name of the Law! Someone, stop that man!" 

Predictably, the shouts had little effect, and a small conflagration started with two of the people in front of the queue being shoved to the ground and a third recieving a painful blow to the thigh. All to no avail, as you turn around and Parker has disappeared.

Blair, as you open the paper, it only contains the address of his offices and two words underneath:

"Burn everything!"

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Murph, the chimney seems to be shared with the store, at least you can't tell a chimney belonging to the store alone. As you reach into it, you feel no heat or smoke coming up, though it is thickly covered in soot. That could cause you to slip, but worst of all it's going to be really irritating to breath, and you're likely going to leave dirty tracks in the house below once you're inside.

You might be able to shove a cloth bundle or something down the chimney to take care of the worst of the soot. Or alternatively try and find something to wash yourself when you're presumably inside the kitchen or the cellar of the house.

After taking a circuitous path to ensure I’m not being followed, I pull into an alley and look at Blair, “Did you see where Parker went? Did something happen to him?” A troubled and worried look covers my face as I try and keep my anxiety in check. ... though seemingly to little avail. 

Blair would brush her thumb across the calligraphy on the paper. A wave of emotions ranging from sadness, pain, and anger would wash over her face as she'd crumple up the note in her fist. Tears even threatened to come to surface, but then her expression would wipe clean. Blair. You fool. It'd harden and she'd turn her chin up, as if cutting herself off from her emotions.

Eventually, Blair would breathe and shake her head in response to Dart. She honestly had no idea where he went, or what happened. But what she did know, was that he was gone, and now she's being asked to clean up his mess, while she picking up her own pieces. "He knew the risks." The redhead would swallow her words, clenching her jaw before exhaling a breath.

Giving a solemn nod of agreement I look at Blair as steadily as I can muster, “What’s in the note?”

Ooc: assuming Blair shares the contents

”Guess we should make our way there then...”

Murph decides to find a good vantage point to sit for a bit of a stakeout, with a clear view of the building to see who comes in and out, and when, and also a decent view of the surrounding buildings.

As Murph settles in near the chimney, you notice the light of dawn cresting on the horizon, and lights in the rooms above the shops going on, as people start to go about their daily business. As you look around, you notice that there is no light or other sign of activity coming from a building two houses away.

Blair didn’t intend to show the note, but if Dart saw it, she wouldn’t hide it. She didn’t know what Dart’s involvement was, what he knew of Parker’s offices, or even if this was meant for only her. But what she did know, was that she was off to set what ever hope she had, ablaze. “Yeah. No point waiting around.” Her boots would start walking. 

Murph, feeling a bit exposed as the sun rises, moves over to the unlit house and peers in the windows, listening as well for any noise inside.

Perception: 3

Assuming nothing, he tries to open or unlock or pick the lock keeping the window shut.

Sleight of hand: 20

As Murph approaches the house in the dawning morning, and quickly scurries up a drainpipe to the second story, there appear no signs of any activity from within. The windows are latched, and you quickly manage to insert a thin, yet sturdy blade in the crack between the two halves of the window and leverage the latch open. Quietly, you make your way inside, and close the window again.

All the while, you hold your breath and are attentively listening for anyone around, while you take the place in. It's clear that you're in some clerk's offices, with legal volumens stacked on bookshelves at the wall, and a well-stocked writing desk to the left of the window you entered through.

Do you want to check the rest of the apartment to see if anyone's home, or are you trying to hide with a decent vantage point immediately?

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Dart and Blair, as well as the twins first make sure that they aren't being followed, before Blair exchanges a few words with the twins who excuse themselves and head towards the dockside. Meanwhile, the halfling and the redhead make their way to Primrose Street, near the Eastside section of the city wall.

Each step Blair walked was fuelled with frustration of the unknown. It propelled her forward. She’d continue to keep an eye out to make sure no one tailed them, was watching them, or could hear them. Although her boots hit the ground with purpose, she was surprisingly quiet like a cat as she lead their way to the address. Once arrived, the redhead would begin inspecting the perimeter, windows, doors and locks to make their way in. The longer she looked around, the more agitated she got. She didn’t know what else to feel. I don’t even know what I’m about to burn... It was all secret to her. “Dart...” Blair’s voice was soft, maybe even with a hint of defeat. “Do you know what Parker was preparing or planning?”