Following Break-In At Bleak End, Punmiri Tel-Phaeun, Nessa Nina Quickpick Rumbauld Pennyluck, and Merben Ordri Fizzlehide Pennyluck were buried in a cave-in below the Undermire Dwarf-Door. By fortune, the scattered Whistledrop Crew emerged near the Lockford Lightspring, an Arcane Well of Positive Energy that Poons channeled to restore the group's injuries. As they rested, Nessa spoke of the Lightspring's history and of Little Lockford itself, prompting Merben to question why he had never been shown his mother's hometown or introduced to its people. The conversation ended with the shared realization that Merben had spent most of his life isolated from others beyond his immediate family or the Glitterati, and could do with some time among more normal gnomes.
A half-day's journey away, the refugees of Little Lockford were enduring worsening conditions within a temporary encampment near the sealed bulwark of Old Lockford. The settlement's lone Dwarf and most feared Martial Artist, Ragnum Ironknuckles, was out of Rubbleclub Classic; using an old Dark Dwarf recipe, he began fermenting whiskey from Fire Lichen, though was concerned it could not compete with the brews made by the missing Kavoda Zilhink Dazzlehat Urvi Oofenklanger. Elsewhere in the camp, the artificer-cartographer Azimuth Andrea Almanac Caspian Kelshplotter learned of the distant cave-in while organizing his scouting patrols. With resources exhausted and many scouts missing or dead, Azimuth chose to investigate personally, though knew he needed protection for the journey. He eventually convinced Ragnum to accompany him by accelerating the fermentation of the dwarf's latest batch of brew, and the two left alongside Azi's loyal Mastiff, Bunson.
The journey to the Lightspring revealed that the tremors from the cave-in had destabilized portions of the Upperways, forcing the trio through more-dangerous and less-traveled passages. Azimuth and Ragnum stealthily tracked a hunting Grell, only to discover that the brain-like Abberation was targeting the Lightspring; an elderly Rogue, a Crossborn Halfling, and a Human Cleric were bathing in its waters! Before they were ambushed, however, Punmiri sensed an unnatural disturbance within the pool and realized that an aquatic Grick had concealed itself among the water's standing stones.
The two parties attacked together from opposite sides of the spring, overwhelming both creatures with arrows, bolts, and radiant magic. During the battle, the Grell seized Bunson and attempted to flee, but Ragnum leapt forward and bunny-punched through the brain before it could escape. No longer under the grell's psychic influence, the grick fled, and both groups ran to heal Bunson. The trios introduced themselves, and Azimuth revealed his detailed Little Lockford Battlemap, though much of the city's condition since the Lockdown remained unknown. He also explained that Tockworth's longtime rival, the Wizard Igna Tynn Nimblepipe Bifimp Giltpurple Flint, might possess knowledge capable of ending the crisis, but had vanished during the evacuation.
The newly formed party made for the refugee camp, but pack of Hook Horrors nearly ambushed them. The group was able to intimidate the creatures away through discordant music, flashing lights, and Ragnum's harrowing screams. Along the route, Nessa discovered a concealed fissure leading into a hidden grotto where a perfectly carved stone throne stood alone at the chamber's center. Bunson reacted aggressively to the object, but Ragnum touched it regardless. The throne was, of course, a Mimic, and it folded in on Ragnum immediately. Though a less capable traveler would have been eaten, Ragnum twisted and parried the mimic's pseudopods despite being stuck to it, and as his party members assisted, he beat the life out of the creature before claiming its undigested treasures.
When the party finally reached the refugee camp, the people of Little Lockford were entranced by Punmiri, many having never seen such a large woman. Poons distributed trinkets to the small folk, much as she had in the Faeriefort, and they passed through the camp to meet with Mayor Kreem. Nessa's childhood friend had grown increasingly forgetful, but he was well-intentioned. Mayor Kreem repeatedly confused names, histories, and events, eventually convincing himself that Nessa had become a sort of queen in Commona. Despite the confusion, Kreem provided the party with his own Little Lockford Sketch; though somewhat unreliable, it included a few details Azimuth was not privy to.
Desperate to reclaim his home, Mayor Kreem offered the team a substantial reward for entering Little Lockford and ending the threat. The payment included a 5000-gold ruby ring, a Luckstone, a Driftglobe, and his Boots of Striding and Springing, as well as permission to take whatever potions they found in Little Lockford. The party accepted the arrangement, though Punmiri nearly volunteered her aid freely before Nessa silenced the suggestion. Azimuth was reluctant to "end" Tixie as the two formerly had a brief relationship which itself had not ended well.
The crew rested that evening, with Azimuth crafting a spell scroll of invisibility for Punmiri. Choosing to leave Merben and Bunson behind with the mayor, they were taken to the bulwark guarding Old Lockford. The garrison was guarded by two gnome mages, who opened its arcane doors with a "knock" Spell. A wave of heat hit the adventurers as lightning crackled in the distance; the doors closed behind them, and the quartet was locked in Little Lockford.