Effulgyn enters the kitchen and now the entire restaurant is silent. The tiefling trio are not even pretending to conversate any longer and the folks at the rectangular table are now watching you. 

((My wife and I got boosters for covid two days ago and it has hit is pretty hard.  Not feeling really well and trying to be completely ready for Christmas.  All good just feeling ill and living on aspirin and ibuprofen.))

Ferg is concerned that Effulgyn might overreact and follows as he chases into the kitchen.  "Effulgyn, everything is going to be ok..."  just a knee-jerk thing to say when knowledge is limited and emotions are high.

"Better go make sure he's alright there." Fin boosts himself up to play the diligent bodyguard, trying to seem as in-control as possible for the unexpected audience before rushing into the kitchen too.

Effulgyn enters the kitchen right behind Haldeen, such that the door behind her doesn't have a chance to close. 

“Please. What news of Nimbelwynde farm? It’s my home, and I’ve been… away. Please.” he says to the first person he sees, a Half Orc wearing a pristine white smock that even ID would be proud of.  The half-orc stands close to 7 feet tall and is stirring a large pot at the stove, or at least was, before the intrusion. There is a gnome with a tuft of bright pink hair standing on a stool at the counter to the right of the stove, chopping vegetables and throwing them into a pot. They turn to face the visitors, but does not stop chopping. 

The half orc, having composed himself, starts to answer but Fin and Ferg enter before he gets a chance. He momentarily looks annoyed at the intrusion but upon looking at Effulgyn's panicked face, softens (by half orc standards, anyway). 

"Well we don't do dealings with Nimblewynde Farms, I don't think, do we Oarve?" he says, looking over at the gnome.

In an unsettlingly deep voice, the gnome responds: "No, don't think so. Don't remember why not."

"But we do dealings with Calm Waters and there's been trouble there, far as we heard. Not getting our eggs or our milk, or our cheese. No meat, nothing. Tried contacting Featherbee Meadows but couldn't get a hold of them either." 

"Must be raids, been hearing of them recently" the Gnome says, wiping their hands on their (not as pristine white) smock. They jump nimbly off of the stool and walk up to Effulgyn, staring him in the face with odd purple eyes. "How long have you been away for?" they ask. 

Effulgyn stands benumbed upon learning the news of the other (presumably neighboring) farm. It takes a long moment for him to absorb the gnome’s question.

“How long have I been away?,” he repeats. “ Too long!,”he replies firmly, and without another word, turns to leave the kitchen and the tavern, oblivious to the presence or looks of anyone else. If he makes it as far as the cart, he gets to work preparing it for a journey.

Arc and Ash are still at the table when they see Effulgyn rush out from behind the kitchen doors, followed closely by Haldeen. "wait!" she calls after him, but Effulgyn is motivated in a sort of urgent way that guides his steps with conviction. They exit the restaurant completely, as the guests watch with growing interest. 

A moment or two passes before Haldeen returns. 

"Right," she says at the door of the restaurant, addressing everyone at once it seems. "His family's farm is in trouble, and he just learned of it now." she says. "Up in Voture Village. You lot need anything before I leave to help him out? Poor lamb, he's terribly shaken."

The six at the table in the back shake their heads soberly. The elf says: "That's a shame Haldeen. Been hearing all kinds of rumours and now to see this." 

The three at the table to the left stand to leave. "We're just about ready to leave anyway," one says. He turns to Arc and says, "You lot need weapons, come next door." 

Fin looks about the rooms with a sort of bashful remorse. He sticks a thumb toward the door, mumbles something, and slings his pack over his shoulder before leaving to "comfort" his distraught companion.

"Well, that's certainly a way to break attention when we're close to being found out..." He notes to Effulgyn.

Arc says “Thank you for the meal”, leaves some money on the table and follows the group out, not quite sure what just happened. 

Haldeen leads Arc, Ash, Ferg and Fin outside and beckons Effulgyn to join them. She leads them to the back of the building and up a flight of wooden stairs. The sky has clouded over somewhat, with fat, grey clouds rolling quickly across the blue sky. 

"We will be able to talk freely here," she says. 

A wooden door that's been painted purple stands at the top of the stairs. Upon closer inspection you see that some very small golden stars have been painted around the frame. Despite being in the back of the building, you get the distinct impression that this is used as a main door. 

Haldeen lets herself in, gesturing you to stay quiet. 

Fin is first in the order to go in, followed by Arc. Effulgyn, Ferg then Ash.

Fin feel free to make any checks you'd like as Haldeen welcomes you to Madame Moulot's. 

((Whew, what sort of checks...well, I suppose Perception, assuming I can see within. What does the baseline interior look like? The name implies either a house of...inconspicuous nature (Investigation), or a sort of ***** mysticism (Nature/Religion).))

Perception: 8

((Wow...Gyps-Y is a censored word now?))

As the first to enter, Fin, you are immediately hit with a strong smell of incense. It is so thick and cloying, you find it hard to breathe at first, and a little hard to see. The rest of the company can see the smoke billowing outside the open door, filling the summer air with its sweet and almost noxious scent. 

But once you enter, your eyes and lungs adjust and you can see that you are in a large room with three doors, all closed.  There are two windows on either side of the door, with heavy velvety drapes keeping the sun out. The room is decorated in the same purple as the door--a large rug, some plush looking chairs against the walls.  Many shelves adorn the walls on three sides, stacked with curios, baskets, art, flowers--it kind of reminds you of being in a components shop or an apothecary. 

You aren't given much time to look around though--Haldeen opens the first door to the left wall, peeks inside, and then ushers you in one by one. 

OOC Is anyone doing anything other than going into the room? 

Effulgyn has taken a moment at the cart to catch his breath and think things through. ‘If the woman above is a soothsayer,’ he considers, ‘perhaps she can offer more definitive information regarding Nimblewynde farm. I mustn’t jump to conclusions based on partial information.’

He follows the others upstairs, with a measured step, and, at the top step, looks carefully around to see who might be watching him enter, as if he might spot the raiders from this position and stop them from doing any farther harm.

He pushes through the door after the others and enters the room, arms hanging limp at his sides, as if helpless to move them. 

The room Haldeen leads you to is small and dark, painted dark blue with small metallic stars painted near the ceiling and one large window draped with thick navy blue velvet similar to those in the main room. Here is a plush navy carpet, with smaller, more colourful carpets laid out around in a bit of a circle, with large pillows accompanying them. It feels snug in here, but not necessarily cozy. As plush as it feels, you can't imagine doing much sleeping here. 

Once you're all in, Haldeen closes the door and invites you to sit. 

"I know you are in haste, but I can't think of a safer space to talk freely than this." she says, sitting on a deep orange carpet and drawing a purple satin cushion close to her. 

“Can she?,” asks Effulgyn. “Can she tell me if m’ family’s all right?”

Haldeen looks confused for a minute. "Madame Moulot?" she asks, "I...don't know for certain. She has seen things. But not many believe her. We can try. Either way I know she will be sympathetic. And either way we can give you advice for your trip east of here. Things have been changing recently, maybe since you were last home." 

"Is incense....you know, part of magic or something? I know people use it in temples, and sometimes to meditate." Fin surveys the room, appearing to check fabrics and trappings for quality or culture, but more for signs of entrapment. "Does the Madame have an affiliation with The Commons? I hear that's where all the magic folks keep."

((Investigation for searching, Religion/Arcana for possible cultural examination?))

Haldeen shakes her head and quietly, conspirationally says: "Madame Moulot makes it herself and to be honest, I think it's fake. Or at least...I don't think her recipe is right. We were one of the first places raided obviously and they took it all but when they came back and raided us again, they left it all behind. I put two and two together then. Really hurt her feelings actually when they left it."

“You were raided… too? Twice? But who are the raiders, and why doesn’t somebody stop them?,” asks Effulgyn, some of the fire returning to his tone. 
“Ferg, have you heard of them?” 
(OOC: Effulgyn uses the Help action to give Ferg advantage on a history/ knowledge check if applicable.)

Ferg thinks for a minute ... (history with advantage: 15 )

Arc thinks about it to; History: 12