There are many rules of stealth
After the hostage comes to consciousness, the interrogation begins.
Aranar asks “Why are you after me?” The Kobold replies, forked tongue and hard lips curling the language of common before spitting it out “Cerdat wants you, for the same reason all dragons want dragon blood, to return to this plane from his banishment” “The is the problem with the civilisation around you, it dulls your senses, it stops you speaking to your ancestors, do you not dream and see them? Dream and see what glory and power they behold?” “We are going to take you to the great mountain, the seat of the Dragon”.
During this conversation, Aranar notices the Kobold has not been erratically tapping on the floor, but seems to be tapping some form of code out. After being questioned as to who he is communicating with, he responds “I’m not dead yet”, with a quick nod from Aranar to Anya, Anya makes short work of the Kobold.
The first order of business is the party rearranges the room to defend from the shift of Kobolds coming back, after which the chest in the room is searched and a small fortune is found, however there appears to be more to the chest. With a quick use of her tools, Anya pops the lock open and sees a narrow passageway leading downstairs to flickering candlelight, and whooshes of increased light as something may be being burned.
The party make short work of the two kobolds downstairs, not even setting off the traps to defend the kobolds, but it’s too late, most of the documents and letters downstairs are burned up. As the final kobold is slain however, a sigil appears on the ground, and starts spinning faster and faster.
Snatching up what unburned scraps remain, the party high tail it out of the warehouse and get only a few buildings away before a massive explosion tears up the ground and sends fragments of the warehouse they were just in flying.
After running all the way back to Thryn’s house, the party pour over what scraps remain, and by cross-referencing a few letters and maps, trace the place known as “The Seat of the Dragon” to a mountain east of Thaumgate.
The next morning, after recovering from the night out Aranar has a hushed conversation with Thryn and Aranar as he reveals the dreams he has had previously of dragons from back in the first temple. After a discussion, the party agrees to head off to the mountain as their next major course of action.
The rest of the day is spent preparing, selling and buying various goods and Thryn helps Aranar fix Clockwork Scorpion which was damaged in a “Heat Metal” incident. During the day out a runner for the Mandoa known as Viper Robin slips Aranar a note.
”The Black Thorn Crew are investigating the destruction of a warehouse and a valuable client of theirs. Lay Low. Ironmaw may not be safe for a while.”
After this, Aranar returns from shopping to go into hiding as Thryn and Anya finish up shopping for the day.