If you’re diving into the gritty, mystery-laden streets of Esoteric Ebb, the Tea Shop explosion is the inciting incident that really gets your detective gears turning. While you’ll be sifting through plenty of rubble and rumors, your most critical objective is tracking down the only known survivor: a notoriously bright-yellow-clad man named Frank, son of Frank.
Whether Frank is an innocent bystander, a key witness, or the prime suspect is up for debate. What isn’t up for debate is that finding him is mandatory for pushing the main investigation forward. If you’re tired of running in circles around Tolstad looking for a guy in a yellow backpack, I’ve got you covered.
Here is the quick-reference breakdown of the entire “The Star Witness” questline so you can get right back to the investigation.
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The Star Witness Quest Overview
| Quest Detail | Information |
| Quest Trigger | Speak to Lady Miska Sageleaf in the Goblin Garden |
| Target | Frank, son of Frank (wearing yellow + yellow backpack) |
| Key Informants | Arn, The Duck, Moongore |
| Suspected Regions | Waterlane, The City Below |
| Final Location | South Caves (The City Below) |
How to Start ‘The Star Witness’
Before you can actually start hunting Frank, you need to get the quest officially logged in your investigation tree.
Head over to the Goblin Garden and look for Lady Miska Sageleaf. Initiate a conversation with her regarding the Tea Shop explosion. As you grill her for details, she will drop the crucial intel about a possible survivor fleeing the scene. Once this dialogue wraps up, “The Star Witness” will officially populate in your quest log.
Gathering Clues: The NPC Breadcrumb Trail
Esoteric Ebb doesn’t just hand you a glowing waypoint; you have to do some actual legwork. Early rumors suggest Frank either bolted for Waterlane (the lower dock district) or went deep underground into The City Below.
To narrow this down, you need to hit the streets of Tolstad and speak to three specific NPCs to update your quest log:
- Arn (Pillar Kiosk): Speak to Arn to confirm Frank’s physical description. He verifies the bright yellow clothing, the massive yellow backpack, and mentions that Frank recently bought a Freestrider magazine before dipping out.
- The Duck (Temple of Urth): Yes, the Duck. Head to the temple and speak to this feathered informant. The Duck will mention a suspicious outsider currently hiding out where he doesn’t belong down in the City Below.
- Moongore (The Roots): This is the smoking gun. Find Moongore in The Roots. She will reveal an altercation where Frank actively used magic on her before making a break for the South Caves.
Finding Frank: Descending into the City Below
With Moongore’s testimony, the investigation firmly points away from the docks and directly underground. Your final destination is the South Caves, located deep within the caverns of The City Below.
Do not rush blindly into the City Below just because you have the quest marker updated. The subterranean areas beneath Tolstad represent a noticeable difficulty spike early in the game. Ensure your party is properly leveled, your gear is repaired, and you have enough restorative items before you make the descent to confront Frank.
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FAQs
Can I just skip the NPC conversations and rush straight to the South Caves to find Frank?
While Esoteric Ebb promotes exploration, heavily story-gated quests like this usually require the internal investigation log to be updated to trigger specific dialogue or events. Take the five minutes to talk to Arn, The Duck, and Moongore to ensure the quest progresses smoothly without bugging out.
Is Frank actually the bomber?
Without venturing into massive spoiler territory, Frank’s involvement is… complicated. Treat him as a hostile/flight risk when you finally corner him in the South Caves, and be prepared for the narrative to take a sharp turn based on what you uncover down there.
I’m getting absolutely wrecked in the City Below. Am I here too early?
If the cavern enemies are two-shotting you, back out. The Tea Shop explosion is a main thread, but Esoteric Ebb has plenty of side content in the upper districts of Tolstad. Grind out a level or two, upgrade your weapons, and head back down when you aren’t so squishy.
