"I'll get my things," she says almost a bit too over-eager probably, after she finishes up the food on her plate. She will go back to her room and tidy her bed first, a childhood habit really. Then she'll collect her backpack and gear, before wandering back out to the group. 

"I'm ready when you all are."

It is not hard to tell that, judging from the way she grips the straps of her backpack and rocks slightly back and forth in her boots, that she is a fair bit excited to continue this adventure -- especially with the peculiar group. Menodora offers the map out in the air between she and the others.

"It's not a perfect map, but someone else might want to use it today. Lest I get us lost again."

As the group makes preparations to depart, he heads back to the bar to order second's-to-go before heading outside to wait for the others.  As he does so, Aeros smiles as he sees Menodora practically bouncing with excitement.  Turning to her, he comments jokingly, "You seem really excited this morning," before chuckling quietly to himself and taking a bit of his second meal.  

Once everyone arrives, Aeros will take the map if no one else offers to take it first and begins to lead the way towards the Firemark Facility, casually whistling along the way.

With Menodora's map, you all can find your way fairly easily to the Firemark Facility.

The brown-and-red brick building is larger than you expected, its black-iron roof stretching over a massive compound. The scent of sulfur and blasting powder, familiar from the prison cell, is faint on the air here. As you draw near, a gnome guard approaches you with a suspicious look.

"Oi! This area is restricted," she calls as she approaches, squinting at them from under her helmet. "Ye all ought to get goin'."

On the way to the Firemark Facility, Eryn would have kept an eye out for the Lay of the Land apothecary. [OOC: This is unlikely, but he doesn't know that.]

He would have also pulled up the hood of his cloak and put on a pair of spectacles with smoke-darkened lenses. 

(The Lay of the Land shop is marked on the map. It's nearer to the Winch Lift to the upper city, on the other side of the city.)

"Oh hi," Aeros replies to the gnome as he flashes the Watchmaster's badge again in a manner that stated he was quite enjoying showing it off, "We're working with the Watchmaster on the investigation regarding the explosion last night.  Mind if we look around and ask a couple of questions?"  

(Give me a persuasion roll)

Persuasion: 8 (oof sorry team)

The gnome guard narrows her eyes at the badge, looking the lot of you up and down. "A likely story," she snorts, rolling her eyes. "Now, like I said, this place is off limits to the likes 'o you! Get on outta here."

Menodora will quietly step around from her spot at the rear of the group, and offer a very almost too-innocent wave at the guard. 

"Hello. I know it might not seem it. But he's really telling the truth. We're genuinely helping the Watchmaster investigate how that prisoner blew that giant hole in the prison," she tells her.

"And really, it would be a waste really for us to have to wander all the way back to get the Watchmaster, and then all the way back up here, and he'd probably have something to say about you just ignoring us when we some harmless questions that might help crack the case, no?"

She'll pause, and look down almost disappointedly, though, rather quickly. An obvious slump to her shoulders.

"Though I guess I could just stay and entertain my friends, until one of us fetches him. Do you have a preference in music? I can play all sorts of things."

Persuasion: 13

The gnome remains steadfast in both her scowl and generally unimpressed air. "T'be frank, I don't much care if you go fetch th'Watchmaster or not. I get paid either way," she snorts, then makes a 'shoo' motion with her hand. "Now off with ye. Only one's allowed 'ere are employees or city officials."

"That is what I had assumed," says Eryn, stepping forward. "So, are you able to explain to me how the prisoner broke out of the prison through the use of black powder? Surely this is something your employer should be concerned about."

The gnome snorts again, shrugging. "Dunno, don't care," she peers up at you all, gesturing again. "Prison business ain't my business, and frankly, that's above my paygrade. I'm just paid to keep people like you out."

"Enough of this!", Arthasis spat after listening to this insolent gnome for a good while longer than he had cared to. "You will move aside or call for one of your surperiors. You are impeding the ongoing manhunt for a convicted war criminal.", he moved closer to this wretched little creature blocking their path. "This criminal used explosives from this facility.", even if it wasn't true, Arthasis was certain that the suggestion would serve its purpose. "The next time you'll be questioned about this, you will have to answer to the Crownsguard, explaining why you were protecting Sken Zabriss from facing swift justice." There was a pause before he tried to drive home his point,  "Now get out of our way!"

(Intimidation 24)

The gnome guard flinches back at Arthasis' words, eyes widening. "Well, ye dinna have to be rude about it," she hisses, clearly offended. "I ain't protectin' no one, 'specially not a war prisoner. I'm jus' tryin' to do me job, but hells if it's worth this," she huffs, stepping aside and waving them in. "Do what ye wan', I'll jus' start looking for a new job," she grouses, stomping off. "Sleese can deal with ye." 

The entrance is open, and assuming you all head inside, you find one Sleese Firemark, a male gnome with short black hair and tired brown eyes, working tirelessly over what appears to be delicate materials. He seems to have noticed your entrance, but is paying you no mind, muttering to himself as he scribbles formulas into a small book on the table next to him.

I guess that's closer to his true nature Aeros ponders to himself as the group is allowed entry into the facility.  After looking around as the walk for anything interesting around the exterior of the building, Aeros will ask the gnome he assumes is sleese "You Sleese?  Your friend outside told us to talk to you if we had questions about the explosion that happened last night."  He'll also once again flash the badge again as he speaks

Perception: 8

Eryn follows along but lets the others take the lead in questioning Sleese.

Instead, he will concentrate on memorising the sights and smells of the materials Sleese is working with for future reference. While doing so, he will also check the floor for any sign of the crimson mud the kobolds had on their feet and the air for any lingering trace of the kobolds peculiar scent.

[OOC: Perception check (rolled twice and separately for either Advantage on smelling or Disadvantage on sight, depending on relevance): 18 , 12 ]

Menodora will not, at all, hide her surprise at Arthasis' outburst. And though at first, she is rather taken aback and perhaps a little bit intimidated herself, as they walk into the facility she finds herself growing a bit more impressed. Especially given its effectiveness.

She will, for the moment, just allow the others to take the lead.

The dark-haired gnome ignores you all for a moment longer, muttering still, before he sets his pencil down and turns to you, eyes narrowed over the rims of his glasses. "Yes? What do you want?" He blinks, seeming to catch up to the questions and shakes his head, mystified. "I'm sorry, explosion? I'm afraid I don't know anything about an explosion. I've been rather busy here, you see; we're shorthanded at the moment," he explains, shaking his head. 

Eryn notes the smell of blasting powder is very strong, as might be expected, given the nature of the facility. No sign or scent of kobolds or the red mud.

"Well you see there was a prison escape last night and explosives were used as part of the breakout.  Everyone told us that the only place to get the materials needed for something like that was from the Firemark Facility so that lead us here; and the guard outside 'lead' us to you."  Pulling out the remains of the explosive device they found, Aeros continues "We found this last night which we suspect was the cause of the explosion.  Anyone bring something like this to you or anyone else around here recently?"