Fianna likes the idea of making the tunnel from here to there with Demiplane but suggests a couple modifications.  Firstly she suggest it be pushed back even later - "Right before we are likely to sleep for the evening.  Best to be sure we are done for the day before expending it."  Secondly she suggest that they use it every other day for much the same reason.  

     In studying and practicing enchanting items, Fianna will attempt to create a gift for their leader - a Hat of Wizardry for Toc.  She hopes, as her skills increase, that perhaps she can make everyone a gift in time...

Chen also spends time poring over an old book, but in his case it is the elven cook book he found in the first trip to the ruins. His previous attempts during his last stay in Hillsfar were somewhat interrupted, but now he is able to pour himself into his culinary experiments with more focus. With the help of Lacy he is able to source a wider range of ingredients and hardware, and dabble in a few different cooking methods to better approximate the intended products described in the ancient tome.

Cooking and eating are the occassions where he is most at his old self, but he also takes the opportunity to roam in the forest, either with Mirica or alone, but always with his hammer. Whenever he is by himself (or thinks he is by himself) he removes his outer robe and spends long hours lifting and throwing heavy rocks or pounding his hammer repeatedly into the largest greenest moss-covered log he can find until it is reduced to splinters. Indeed, despite all his cooking, he seems to even lose a few inches of girth.

Early into the time at Hillsfar, Chen asks Mirica whether she is able to send a message to Sebastian. When she confirms that she can, he says he will ask again when he is ready... but never does. Only shreds of burnt paper can be found in his room.

Russel would try and work with Fianna in the crafting of magical items should she be amenable to such collaboration. 

Outside of that he would spend his time crafting anything and everything that might be useful fighting the dragon. (In other words, I want to craft all the things)

Mirica gladly accepted Nuzej's help - she was not a leaned wizard in any shape or form, did not even try to understand the principals behind Mythallar or Mythal, but wanted to know the general idea, so, any help here was greatly appreciated.

As for Tic... That quiet polite unobtrusive walking reproof to her prejudice did not convince her of the wrongness of her views still, though did not make to loose her cool either. Whether it was Toc's revenge or an attempt of exposure therapy she was not going to give him a satisfaction of her going mad over it. She said her part and that was enough. Once after particularly long day of brainhurting studies of elven and netheresisan lore, she did cast an irritated look at Toc with frustrated "gods, I wish you made him look like someone else!" but that was it. When things were getting too much for her, there was always the forest. Or the Temple, or both of them.

She did not press Chen about his uneasiness and hopes about Sebastian - should he want to talk he would do it himself, but would gladly accompany on the restaurant trips around the city.

In case Fianna shared her idea of the gift to Toc, Mirica would only note that one defining feature is still missing... A decorative inscription, may be? Something defining... like "Wizzard"? But that was more of a joke, truly, the thing was great by itself and pranks were not Mirica's specialty. 

One question was seriously bothering her, though, and one day she asked both Toc and Nuzej about it. If Mythallar was the thing keeping all Netheril cities afloat, yet, all of them dropped from the sky - does it mean there was a way to somehow destroy that globes?

     "Umm, sure," Fianna would say when Russel offered to help.  She wasn't sure how they could but she would figure something out.  Russel's presence was... different than that of everyone else she knew.  The Kenku-ness...  the odd speech and mimicry... It was soothing in a way.  Honestly, a bit amusing.  Definitely pleasant.

---

     Fianna covered it up but she was hurt when Mirica talked about the hat as a prank or a gag gift.  In retrospect Mirica was right, of course.  It was a silly idea, way too mundane and pedestrian for someone who carried around the powers Toc did.  So yeah, it hurt... but less than if she had actually given the thing to Toc, no doubt.  Fianna still does her best to make it, and make it work...  But she discards the item afterwards.  

     "It was only for practice,' She tells Russel.  "A training exercise.  I'll make a... We'll make something better once we can."

Toc shakes his head to Mirica, "You have to understand. Karsus...the greatest of all wizards anywhere, ever really....attempted to cast a spell that basically....tried to turn him into a god...THE god...that would control all magic.  He tried to take over Mystral's place.  When he did that....he simultaneously killed Mystral, and all magic stopped.  All of it. From the most basic magical lantern, to the most powerful Mythallar. Magic stopped for...maybe a minute?  Long enough for all the cities to come crashing down, though....I have read in one of the books here about one city called Asram that was high enough up that it's magic kicked in with enough time so that when it crashed, it wasn't going very fast, and most of the city survived. So....that was it. Killed THE GOD OF MAGIC...and they stopped working for like...1 minute.  If there is a way to destroy them, I do not know what it is, and it's magic way beyond me. But trust me, the more I've read, the more these things seem like an abomination....if I find a way to destroy them, I'll be the first to tell everyone."

-----------------------------

With so many magical books to draw on, Fianna finds the process it actually rather straight forward, if not time consuming. The work is two-fold since before starting to craft the item, she must first create a forumula for it.  This takes her a cuople weeks of some trial and error. Eventually though she's ready to craft the hat. It's a long week, bent over this item that she had to go an pay a top notch seamstress to make for her, just to specifications. The thread had to be just right, but, being in Hillsfar most anything is available, and the summer diamond market is huge. There were a few unexpected things she had to settle on, from the thread color not being quite perfect to the fabric, as well as following the incantations that were supposed to be done all at once, ended up taking so long that she fell asleep during part of it...but only for a couple minutes.  When she's finally done, several weeks in, she has created the Hat of Wizardry...though...it ended up having a few peculiar traits. 9 93 .  When Fianna tests it, every time its power is used, she finds it makes a sizzling noise, as if it were burning briefly...loud enough to make people look.  As well...something she did makes it float. It seems, it always floats 2 inches above the ground whenever you put it down.  But otherwise, after a few weeks, it seems she's made her very first magic item!  She immediately starts planning her next thing, something perhaps more complex. 

-----------------------------

It's a lovely summer day. Chen is out and about town doing some shopping for cooking supplies and ingredients. The market is packed. Chen has noticed a significant number of non-human races around town....including seeing a Bronze dragonborn...and to his surprise, the people don't seem to be harassing the other races. They seem free to wander about. Sure, there are still glances, and frowns, but the red plumes themselves seem to give them fair treatment.  If Chen were a betting dragon, he'd guess the new lord has cast down some new orders for his military folk to follow.  Seems non-humans are no longer fair game in Hillsfar. People's minds don't change overnight, but steps seem to be taking them forward.

He wanders into a square and he sees a large crowd. There seems to be a stage setup and he sees, up under a canopy that shades the stage, there seems to be some people sitting at a table. There's no presentation, more like an open air....meeting. With all the guards around, it seems very much an official thing. He realizes half the people on the stage are elves....and recognizes the First Lord Yestrel himself seems to be working on an agreement with the elven delegation.  The leader of which seems to be a striking blond elven woman.  There are plates of food, and drinks, and it's clear they've been here for hours. The crowd isn't watching, so much as there seems to be people eating their lunch and sitting about, just enjoying being able to watch the cities leadership working closely with these out of towners. 

Chen stops at a table selling roots. Ginger, horseradish and the like. Things that look like they shouldn't be edible, but that form the basis for strong and unique flavors. His back is turned to the stage, so he doesn't see what happens, but there are several screams, and some yells, and he turns around and looks up at the stage where everyone is focused. An elven warrior seems to be standing over Yestrel. In his hands he holds a very fine elven axe covered in blood. Yestrel is on the ground, covered in blood...and squirming. Three arrows slam into the elf, one of them sending the axe twirling from his grasp.   The elf swears and then with a pop vanishes...a nearby wizard tries to stop the spell but somehow isn't able to and the assassin vanishes.  Then the scene descends into chaos.  But one thing sticks with Chen as the elves make a hasty retreat and Yestrel is pulled away to be healed.....people flee from the scene wondering if a second attack is imminent.  The one thing that sticks with him is.....that's his axe.

-----------------------------

Russel is eager to craft everything and anything, but there is only so much time in life, and these things take a lot of it, to make sure things are crafted well.  As such, he quickly realizes he's going to have to choose from...the myriad things he could craft....and decide what it is he'd like to pursue first.

----------------------------- 

     Fianna offers to assist Russel in his Herculean goal, once the have completed the Wizards Hat.  She also does her best to try to reign his foes in a bit and focus on one or two tasks at a time...

     Having difficulty discarding the hat as it won’t just stay on the ground, she’ll add it to her Demiplane of trash, along with the tongued tome...

(He'd probably more likely think "that's Jahren's axe", but yeah it's the Axe of Xyrrois, the one Chen was using for a while)

Chen's mind is whirring - in a split-second he is trying to take in all that just happened and what it might mean. It seems unthinkable that the elves would come all this way after such efforts at peace just to strike at Yestrel, and also not have a sure means of escape. Despite Chen's lack of skill or interest in politics, he suspects the assassin was operating under the authority or control of some other power. The humans would know nothing, but the elves might have some ideas.

Despite his extra height, he can't see the elves now that they are in the crowd or even which way they went, but it isn't difficult for Chen to make a path through the fleeing crowd and move quickly toward the stage. Leaping up onto the stage, he scans the area... it seems all the Hillsfar delegates have been safely shunted away by the guards, but he can spot the heads of the elves fleeing and prepares to give chase.

Then he remembers the axe. That glorious weapon! It was an important piece of evidence, and the city guard would no doubt want to secure it. But then again, their prejudice would hardly ensure a thorough investigation. Without any further thought of the consequences, Chen picks up the axe, leaps off the stage, and pursues the elves...

(Assuming Chen is still under magical disguise. Does that mean the axe becomes disguised as well? If not, he will do his best to stow it somewhere out of sight - maybe tip the root vegetables and other purchases out of his carry bag and use it to wrap the head at least.)

(From the brief look that Chen got, did the elves look as surprised and horrified at the attack as the humans?)

(I think I'll have everything follow the same ruling as Invisibility for this sorta situation:  According to Jeremy Crawford if you are invisible, you cannot make stuff you pick up invisible, but you can hide it under your invisible clothes (or bags I guess, or inside your fist maybe?). The item is still visible if you put it back down (or hold out). The same for your illusion.) 

Chen leaps up onto the stage. Finding himself in the eye of the chaos, with no one around, or seemingly caring about him leaping there. He sees the dark red blood of the first lord sprayed across the place. Paperwork flutters in the wind, left on the table from their work. Chen grabs the bloody axe, turns and leaps back onto the street, tucking the axe under his jacket, sufficiently concealing it as he departs the scene. 

In his mind, he revisits the scene. The elves were just as horrified by the attack as anyone....for certain. 

He follows the elven delegation as they make their way through the street ahead of the crowd. Beyond the people fleeing from the scene, everyone is emerging into the busy summer streets of Hillsfar where most people are unaware of any attack. The crowd is surprised to see elves with drawn weapons and quickly make way for the group as they press through the crowd.  Chen sees them move towards an alleyway. Several Red Plumes are following, but keeping their distance. Not pursing exactly, but more like keeping tabs on the elves and making sure they don't leave their site. A few other from nearby streets see the action and being moving this way as well. 

The elven woman who leads the delegation is being protected by four elves with long curved blades. A male with her is also being protected. Chen recognizes Toc's spell that he always casts for mental conversations, as the man and woman seem to be having a silent magical conversation as their guards move them into the alley. 

It's times like this Chen misses Jahren, who would have been equally horrified at the assassination attempt, yet would have known exactly how to act in this situation, and would have reveled in the intrigue and mystery. Wishing he had paid more attention to his friend's employment of art of diplomacy, Chen approaches the alley where the elves have sequestered themselves, and speaks quickly in his best Elvish: I am a friend to Toc the Younger and to all elves, and want to help you. Who was the assassin? And where did he get that weapon?

Chen knows his more magic-oriented friends have ways of finding people if given enough relevant information.

Chen comes striding into the alley. Three of the four elven warriors immediately advance to form a barrier, the last keeping an eye on the roof tops. The elven male is glancing around, shimmering magic coating his eyes, while the woman stares at Chen, trying to get the sense of him.  She's the one to respond, her shrewd look locking his eyes on her.  "Friends it seems are not all they seem today, though we will appreciate any help we can find. The assassin was Long'sot, and elf that I've known since his birth. However, he has never cast magic like that before...nor does his role as attempted assassin make any sense. The weapon? Until he drew it, it appeared as his normal bow, coated in an illusion, we've no idea where he got it." 

One of the swordsmen speaks up, "It was elven make ma'am. Myth Drannor style, I'd stake my life on it. Though the hilt detailing was of an old style." 

She mutters, "So, an elven assassin with a weapon that likely only an elf would hold. This is made to seem a way it is not. And my magic is unable to locate Long'sot...though...I have another spell...perhaps his locket..I could attempt to locate that.  Yes...it is this way. Do we move?"

There is a small crowd of a dozen red plumes at one end of the alley, watching, clearly undecided about how to proceed....

For the time being, Chen doesn't produce the axe, figuring it wouldn't contribute much to the immediate problem. But he figures he can possibly delay the Red Plumes a little to help the elves. Speaking again in Elvish he says:

Go! Find out what you can. I will delay the guards. If you need a safe refuge, look to the house of Toc the Younger on 2nd Thompson Street, or send a message if you can.

Chen then turns and approaches the guards. He does his best to use his bulk to block both access and view of the alley as he says in his most commanding voice:

Who's in charge, then? The culprit can't have gone far, but might strike again. Let's have three men to each search team. One team to cover the docks, one to return to the square, one to check the trade offices, and one to see to the palace. If you find anything, then send one man back with a message to barracks to summon reinforcements. No time for questions! Go, without delay!

Deception: 15 if needed

The elves curse under their breaths, "We don't know the streets of this town....but...we will find it...thank you."  

The red plumes seem to fill with a bit of bluster at Chen, "Now hold up, who the devil are you?!" the man says aggressively.  "Outta the way or see the prison fool..." says another.  "What about the assassin, someone should check in..."  says another.  There seems to be sufficient confusion that the elves make their get away and after arguing with Chen .... and themselves for a couple minutes, they realize they've lost the elves....cursing Chen, they head off in different directions. 

---------------------------

Back at the Mythallar, Toc stands up from his reading suddenly and asks Nuzej to follow him.  The two of them walk into a room where Mirica is reading, "There's been some sort of assassination attempt in Hillsfar, of an elven delegate. I'm heading there to help them. Do you wish to come? Nuzej?"

Depending on their answers, he takes them if they wish, and with gut wrenching twist of reality, they appear on the teleportation pad in the basement of Lacy's home. He takes a few quick steps upstairs, "Lacy, sorry to intrude, there's been an incident in town. May we intrude with a few guests for a short while?"   Lacy, who seems to be sitting, feet stretched out reading what appears to be a cook book, doesn't even bother to look up, and waves her hand, "Course, feel free. Lemme know if they need some feeding."

He nods as he strides past, "That shouldn't be necessary, thank you."  He walks past and to the front door. He mutters a few arcane words and he vanishes, "Need to go find the delegation and help bring them here..." 

---------------------------

Chen receives a magical sending spell from Toc, "Thank you for helping the delegation. I'll be finding them and trying to get them to the house without too much trouble. Thank you again."

(I think Chen is still magically disguised as a human. Correct me if I'm wrong)

Chen replies: They might be searching for the assassin first. They used magic to track him by his locket. It was a bit rushed, so I didn't...

There was no point (nor time it seemed) to ask questions now. Mirica tried her best to ignore the immediate rush of bad feelings, but nodded, put the book aside and readied herself to teleporting. "If there is an immediate investigation, Fianna's and Russel's help might be needed right away too." It was more of a question, a notion, rather than suggestion.

Mirica greeted Lacy on the other side, thought a little and adjusted her hat of disguise to show the most ordinary small-town-girl she could imagine (in case she would need to leave the house). Anyone coming from outside would see only a peaceful scene of two townies busy with learning new recipes.

((Assuming Chen was having Fianna do the Seeming then it would hold 8 hours unless Chen tried to shrug it off...

I don’t think where Fianba was staying was made 100% clear, I mentioned her getting a room before Lacy was back up and running... Either works.))

At the mention of Russel, Toc nods to Mirica, "Oh yes, the Kenku, right..."  

He tracks down Russel as well, and offers to take him to Hillsfar with them. 

As Mirica and Toc (and possibly Nuzej and Russel) emerge from the basement, they also note Fianna lounging on the couch reading near Lacy.  Toc quickly fills her in on the situation.

"Apparently the elves may be looking for the assassin using magic....they don't want to delay. I've messaged them and apparently they're over on Olive street, near the Port walk....word is getting around quickly about the attack, but for the moment they seem free to investigate. I'm planning on meeting them at 'The Crowsnest Tavern' on the waterfront.  Anyone who wants to come with is welcome. I....plan to be invisible, since i don't have a disguise spell handy...."

----------------------

Chen gets a reply, "Elves headed for Crowsnest Tavern on northern end of waterfront. Meeting them there."

     “I can disguise us all easy enough,” Fianna notes. “Townsfolk? Guards? Us but human?  Name it and it’s done...”  ((not concentration do Chen’s will persist for the remainder of his 8 hours...))

     The invisible Fi’Finella has already slipped out an open window and is flying towards the tavern in question.  She will keep a wide berth, not trying to enter or approach the elves if she sees them. Just eye in the sky it and update Fianna on anything curious...

"Some details on assassination? Who was attacked and by whom?" Mirica would join the meeting no matter the answers - if elves decided not to hide, it could not be that bad and she would like to be there in case help is needed.

Toc mutters, "I have few details. An elf attempted to assassinate the First Lord. We'll learn more when we reach the elves..."  He turns to Fianna, "That is excellent, townsfolk then...that would be best..."

The group departs Lacy's house and begins a weaving, jagged path through alleys and streets trying to reach the Port Walk waterfront as quickly as possible. Everyone notices groups of red plumes moving about in squads of four or eight, their red feathered caps bobbing through the warm summer crowds. Fi'Finella meanwhile makes quick time, flying directly over the press of buildings that stand in the way of those on foot. She lands on a tall post on the port front. It's warm and sunny. There is a press of ships in the harbor, with people busy at work loading and unloading, cleaning, repairing, and tending to their goods and ships. The waterfront walk is a tall wooden walkway on pilings that is fronted by all manner of shops, stores, taverns, and warehouses. Fi'Finella watches a group of six elves moving with purpose make their way through the crowd.  They walk off the boardwalk onto a pier and move part way, past a couple ships and then stop. The woman leading them halts them and steps to one side, and looks down into the water with a grim look on her face. She turns to the men with her and one of the elves begins peeling off his armor, while another one begins ritually casting a spell on him. 

By the time the group reaches the boardwalk, the elf is stripped down to his underclothes, and dives into the water.  They follow Fianna's guidance and find the elves on the dock. They pay not particular attention to the group of you....normal townsfolk that you are.