A massive great tree with a grey bark that stands at the edge of where the swamp begins. In the air lingers the musty smell of the swamp. Dotted around the base of the tree are various items – pieces of metal, wood, clay, rock. Some that look almost like machines, others that look more like pieces of art.

A few wooden steps up to a platform. Where a ladder that can be pushed up to like an old fire escape leads to the cottage A large brass bell that hangs attached to the bark. It all has a cheerful higgledy piggledy-like quality about it.

In the back you can hear the slow rattling of a waterwheel, while pointing at an odd angle there’s a windmill sticking out of the roof. At the back of the house, there’s also a little crane that sways in the wind, creaking quietly. Together with a cheerful collection of wind-chimes. From up above you can hear a cacophony of sounds, from mechanical ticking of a clock, general tinkering sounds to the whistle of a kettle and the release of steam.

Once inside the whole cottage is stuffed to the rafters with materials. Upon entering, a small clockwork observer begins to jump around excitedly. An origami-folded bird sweeps past and lands on a partially hidden figure while a broom begins to furiously sweep all around the visitors.

Soon there’s a loud bang, a snap and a crackle and the face of Zinbi Squiggleguard appears. Spotting visitors, she’ll excitedly jump and stumble around and start explaining about what she’s currently working on. These machines are the most fantastical inventions meant to help the community of Northtower, though they usually have some flaw that prevent them from being actually helpful:

• An automatic apple-picker that only picks the bruised ones

• A sentient teakettle that is extremely self-conscious

• An automatic seed spitter that only walks in circles

• An automatic ploughing machine that is always tired

• An automatic harvesting machine that skips every third plant

• An automatic grass-cutter that gets distracted by insects

• A water sprinkler that turns water into lemonade