diff --git a/pillar_tool/db/queries/pillar_queries.py b/pillar_tool/db/queries/pillar_queries.py
index 5e9e184..7ddb7e9 100644
--- a/pillar_tool/db/queries/pillar_queries.py
+++ b/pillar_tool/db/queries/pillar_queries.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ def get_pillar_name_sequence(name: str) -> list[str]:
 
 def decode_pillar_value(pillar: Pillar) -> str | int | float | bool | list | dict:
     match pillar.parameter_type:
-        case 'string': return pillar.value
+        case 'string': return str(pillar.value)
         case 'integer': return int(pillar.value)
         case 'float': return float(pillar.value)
         case 'boolean': return bool(pillar.value)
@@ -32,10 +32,17 @@ def get_pillar_for_target(db: Session, target: UUID) -> dict:
         name = row.pillar_name
         value = decode_pillar_value(row)
         labels = get_pillar_name_sequence(name)
+        print(f"Labels: {labels}, Value: {value}")
         current = out
         l = len(labels)
         for i, label in enumerate(labels):
-            if label not in current:
-                current[label] = {} if i < l-1 else value
+            if i < l-1:
+                if label not in current:
+                    current[label] = {}
+                elif type(current[label]) is not dict:
+                    current[label] = {}
+                current = current[label]
+            else:
+                current[label] = json.loads(str(value))
 
     return out
diff --git a/pillar_tool/ptcli/cli/__init__.py b/pillar_tool/ptcli/cli/__init__.py
index 674f2c5..e7eaed0 100644
--- a/pillar_tool/ptcli/cli/__init__.py
+++ b/pillar_tool/ptcli/cli/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 from .host import host
 from .hostgroup import hostgroup
-from .query import query
 from .state import state
 from .pillar import pillar
 from .environment import environment
diff --git a/pillar_tool/ptcli/cli/hostgroup.py b/pillar_tool/ptcli/cli/hostgroup.py
index ae25a42..11eb351 100644
--- a/pillar_tool/ptcli/cli/hostgroup.py
+++ b/pillar_tool/ptcli/cli/hostgroup.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ def hostgroup_show(path: str):
         response = requests.get(f'{base_url()}/hostgroup/{name}', headers=auth_header(), params=data.model_dump())
         response.raise_for_status()
     except requests.exceptions.HTTPError as e:
-        raise click.ClickException(f"Failed to show hostgroup:\n{e}")
+        raise click.ClickException(f"Failed to show hostgroup:\n{e.response.text}")
 
 
 @hostgroup.command("create")
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ def hostgroup_create(path: str):
         response = requests.post(f'{base_url()}/hostgroup/{name}', headers=auth_header(), json=data.model_dump())
         response.raise_for_status()
     except requests.exceptions.HTTPError as e:
-        raise click.ClickException(f"Failed to create hostgroup:\n{e}")
+        raise click.ClickException(f"Failed to create hostgroup:\n{e.response.text}")
 
 
 @hostgroup.command("delete")
@@ -71,4 +71,4 @@ def hostgroup_delete(path: str):
         response = requests.delete(f'{base_url()}/hostgroup/{name}{query_params}', headers=auth_header())
         response.raise_for_status()
     except requests.exceptions.HTTPError as e:
-        raise click.ClickException(f"Failed to delete hostgroup:\n{e}")
+        raise click.ClickException(f"Failed to delete hostgroup:\n{e.response.text}")
diff --git a/pillar_tool/ptcli/cli/pillar.py b/pillar_tool/ptcli/cli/pillar.py
index 1f634dd..6a921bc 100644
--- a/pillar_tool/ptcli/cli/pillar.py
+++ b/pillar_tool/ptcli/cli/pillar.py
@@ -14,19 +14,20 @@ def pillar():
 
 
 @pillar.command("get")
-@click.argument("fqdn")
-def pillar_get(fqdn):
-    """Get pillar data for a given FQDN."""
+@click.argument("target")
+def pillar_get(target: str):
+    """Get pillar data for a given host or hostgroup."""
     try:
         response = requests.get(
-            f"{base_url()}/pillar/{fqdn}",
-            headers=auth_header(),
+            f"{base_url()}/pillar/{target.replace('/', "%%2f")}",
+            headers=auth_header()
         )
+
         response.raise_for_status()
         pillar_data = response.json()
-        click.echo(yaml.dump({fqdn: pillar_data}))
+        click.echo(json.dumps(pillar_data, indent=2))
     except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
-        click.echo(f"Error: {e}")
+        click.echo(f"Error: {e.response.json()}")
 
 @pillar.command("set")
 @click.argument("name")
diff --git a/pillar_tool/ptcli/cli/query.py b/pillar_tool/ptcli/cli/query.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 0d5fc29..0000000
--- a/pillar_tool/ptcli/cli/query.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,9 +0,0 @@
-import click
-import requests
-
-from .cli_main import main, auth_header, base_url
-
-
-@main.group("query")
-def query():
-    pass
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/pillar_tool/ptcli/cli/top.py b/pillar_tool/ptcli/cli/top.py
index 2e42d0e..7617fd3 100644
--- a/pillar_tool/ptcli/cli/top.py
+++ b/pillar_tool/ptcli/cli/top.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ def top_assign(host: str, state: str):
     click.echo("Assigning state to host...")
 
     try:
-        response = requests.post(f'{base_url()}/top/assign/{host}/{state}', headers=auth_header())
+        response = requests.post(f'{base_url()}/top/assign/{host.replace('/', "%%2f")}/{state}', headers=auth_header())
         response.raise_for_status()
 
         click.echo("Assigned state")
diff --git a/pillar_tool/routers/hostgroup.py b/pillar_tool/routers/hostgroup.py
index ec46eea..bccef02 100644
--- a/pillar_tool/routers/hostgroup.py
+++ b/pillar_tool/routers/hostgroup.py
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 import uuid
-
+from typing import Annotated
 
 from sqlalchemy import select, insert, bindparam, delete, and_
 from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
 from starlette.exceptions import HTTPException
 from starlette.requests import Request
-from fastapi import APIRouter, Query, Depends
+from fastapi import APIRouter, Depends
 from starlette.responses import JSONResponse
 
 from pillar_tool.db import Host
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ def hostgroups_get(req: Request):
     return JSONResponse(status_code=200, content=all_hostgroup_names)
 
 @router.get("/{name}")
-def hostgroup_get(req: Request, name: str, params: HostgroupParams = Depends(get_model_from_query(HostgroupParams))):
+def hostgroup_get(req: Request, name: str, params: HostgroupParams):
     """
     Retrieve a specific host group by name with additional details
 
@@ -66,7 +66,11 @@ def hostgroup_get(req: Request, name: str, params: HostgroupParams = Depends(get
     # decode the path
     last = None
     ancestors = []
-    path = split_and_validate_path(params.path) if params.path else []
+    path = []
+    if params:
+        path = split_and_validate_path(params.path) if params.path else []
+
+    print("test")
 
     # get the path from the db
     path_stmt = select(Host).where(and_(Host.name == bindparam('name') and Host.parent_id == bindparam('parent_id')))
@@ -117,7 +121,7 @@ def hostgroup_create(req: Request, name: str, params: HostgroupParams):
     """
     db = req.state.db
     path = params.path
-    labels = split_and_validate_path(path) if path is not None else []
+    labels = ( split_and_validate_path(path) if path is not None else [] ) or []
     labels += [ name ]
 
     stmt = select(Host).where(and_(Host.name == bindparam('name'), Host.is_hostgroup == True, Host.parent_id == bindparam('last')))
diff --git a/pillar_tool/routers/pillar.py b/pillar_tool/routers/pillar.py
index d3d5563..72fc17f 100644
--- a/pillar_tool/routers/pillar.py
+++ b/pillar_tool/routers/pillar.py
@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@ router = APIRouter(
 
 # Note: there is no list of all pillars, as this would not be helpful
 
-@router.get("/{fqdn}")
-def pillar_get(req: Request, fqdn: str):
+@router.get("/{target}")
+def pillar_get(req: Request, target: str) -> JSONResponse:
     # TODO: implement
     # this function should:
     #    - get the affected host hierarchy
@@ -37,27 +37,54 @@ def pillar_get(req: Request, fqdn: str):
     # if any error happens, return non-200 status and an empty dictionary so that salt does not shit itself
     db: Session = req.state.db
 
-    # get the host hierarchy
-    host_stmt = select(Host).where(and_(Host.name == fqdn, Host.is_hostgroup == False))
-    result = db.execute(host_stmt).fetchall()
-    if len(result) == 0:
-        return JSONResponse(status=404, content={})
-    # NOTE: should be enforced by the database
-    assert len(result) == 1
+    # if the target is a hostgroup with path, then split the path and get to the target host this way
+    target = target.replace("%%2F", "%%2f")
+    if "%%2f" in target:
+        path_labels = target.split("%%2f")
 
-    host: Host = result[0][0]
-    path: list[Host] = [host]
-    parent_stmt = select(Host).where(Host.id == bindparam('parent'))
-    while path[-1].parent_id is not None:
-        result = db.execute(parent_stmt, {'parent': path[-1].parent_id}).fetchall()
+
+        host_stmt_remain = select(Host).where(and_(Host.name == bindparam('frag'), Host.parent_id == bindparam('parent_id')))
+        host_stmt_first = select(Host).where(and_(Host.name == bindparam('frag'), Host.parent_id == None))
+        host_stmt = host_stmt_first
+
+        parent_id = None
+        path: list[Host] = []
+        for fragment in path_labels:
+            result = db.execute(host_stmt, {"frag": fragment, "parent_id": parent_id}).fetchall()
+            host_stmt = host_stmt_remain
+            if len(result) == 0:
+                return JSONResponse(status_code=404, content={"message": f"No such path fragment: {fragment} with parent_id {parent_id}"})
+            assert len(result) == 1 # Note: that the db should enforce this
+
+            current: Host = result[0][0]
+            parent_id = current.id
+            path.append(current)
+
+
+    else:
+        # get the host hierarchy from a fqdn or unique hostgroup name
+        host_stmt = select(Host).where(Host.name == target)
+        result = db.execute(host_stmt).fetchall()
+        if len(result) == 0:
+            return JSONResponse(status_code=404, content={'message': f'No such target: {target}'})
         # NOTE: should be enforced by the database
-        assert len(result) == 1
-        tmp: Host = result[0][0]
-        path.append(tmp)
+        if len(result) > 1:
+            return JSONResponse(status_code=400, content={'message': f'Multiple targets: {target}'})
+
+        host: Host = result[0][0]
+        path: list[Host] = [host]
+        parent_stmt = select(Host).where(Host.id == bindparam('parent'))
+        while path[-1].parent_id is not None:
+            result = db.execute(parent_stmt, {'parent': path[-1].parent_id}).fetchall()
+            # NOTE: should be enforced by the database
+            assert len(result) == 1
+            tmp: Host = result[0][0]
+            path.append(tmp)
+
+        path.reverse()
+
 
-    path.reverse()
     out = merge([get_pillar_for_target(db, host.id) for host in path])
-
     return JSONResponse(status_code=200, content=out)
 
 
@@ -126,11 +153,10 @@ def pillar_create(req: Request, name: str, params: PillarParams):
 
     else:
         # build the pillar package
-        pillars_to_store=  [
+        pillars_to_store = [
             { 'name': name, 'value': params.value, 'type': params.type }
         ]
 
-    print(f"Pillars to store: {pillars_to_store}")
     # store pillar data
     insert_stmt = insert(Pillar).values(id=bindparam('new_id'), host_id=target.id, pillar_name=bindparam('name'), parameter_type=bindparam('type'), value=bindparam('value'))
     upsert_stmt = insert_stmt.on_conflict_do_update(constraint='pillar_unique_pillar_name', set_={'parameter_type': bindparam('type'), 'value': bindparam('value')} )
diff --git a/pillar_tool/routers/top.py b/pillar_tool/routers/top.py
index 454ea75..4a386cf 100644
--- a/pillar_tool/routers/top.py
+++ b/pillar_tool/routers/top.py
@@ -112,12 +112,19 @@ def top_state_assign(req: Request, host_name: str, state_name: str):
     db: Session = req.state.db
 
     # get the host in question
-    host_stmt = select(Host).where(Host.name == host_name)
-    host_res = db.execute(host_stmt).fetchall()
-    if len(host_res) != 1:
-        return JSONResponse(status_code=404, content={"error": f"Host '{host_name} not found"})
+    path_labels = host_name.replace("%%2F", "%%2f").split("%%2f")
+    parent_id = None
+    for path in path_labels:
+        host_stmt = select(Host).where(and_(Host.name == path, Host.parent_id == parent_id))
+        host_res = db.execute(host_stmt).fetchall()
 
-    host: Host = host_res[0][0]
+        if len(host_res) != 1:
+            return JSONResponse(status_code=404, content={"error": f"Host '{host_name} not found"})
+
+        current: Host = host_res[0][0]
+        parent_id = current.id
+
+    host: Host = current
 
     parent_stmt = select(Host).where(Host.id == bindparam("parent_id"))
     parents: list[Host] = []
diff --git a/pillar_tool/schemas.py b/pillar_tool/schemas.py
index 4d6ee0c..d9d5da8 100644
--- a/pillar_tool/schemas.py
+++ b/pillar_tool/schemas.py
@@ -53,10 +53,10 @@ class StateParams(BaseModel):
 
 # Pillar operations
 class PillarParams(BaseModel):
-    host: str | None
-    hostgroup: str | None
-    value: str | None # value if the pillar should be set
-    type: str | None # type of pillar if pillar should be set
+    host: str | None = None
+    hostgroup: str | None = None
+    value: str | None = None # value if the pillar should be set
+    type: str | None = None # type of pillar if pillar should be set
 
 
 def get_model_from_query[T](model: T) -> Callable[[Request], T]: