After Volo's report of an all-clear, Hildi asks his familiar to hang out in a tree that would catch sight of anyone approaching or leaving the two entrances.

Covering his rumbling stomach with an arm, Hildigrim decides to let either Quillary or Drusk have the first words.

Quillary, after glancing at her companions, recognizes that she did knock, and is standing right in front of the door. The others must be in favor of the approach she would normally take.

"We are looking for Faerl. I assume you are he? You are working with a likely criminal responsible for vicious murder and mocking of the line between life and death, and we are here to extract from you his whereabouts, that we may bring justice to him."

After seeing that the door is quite secure, and thinking that, even if this guy did try to run away, it would take some time and effort for him to get through the door, he would have gone back to the front with the rest of party to lend a burly, stern face to Quillary's words.

Faerl tilts his head back, apparently so he can look down his nose at the three of you. Quillary is in the finest clothing (due to her magic armor), so he addresses her. "Those are serious accusations, considering how peaceful this village is. I'm preparing for a trip tomorrow, but I will spare you a few minutes to explain your claims. You can have your brutish bodyguard and your dull-witted foot servant accompany you into my house."

The main room doubles as an office. The table and most of the chairs are filled with business records and correspondence. "Find an empty chair, or remain standing. Do not disturb my important paperwork."

There is a roaring fire in the back, which is heating a kettle (of water). There is food on the table, which has been carefully packaged. (Take-out from some local restaurant... he didn't cook it.)

As he is closing the front door, Jorin sticks his arm into the gap. After mumbling that he is with the rest of the group, Faerl reluctantly opens the door enough to let him in. After sniffing (like he smells something bad), he asks Quillary, "You don't have any more servants you plan on having barge into my house? Identify yourself (and your lackeys) and explain what you meant. Make it short."

Are there any delicate looking baubles around?

Quote from Guiltysparc >>

Are there any delicate looking baubles around?

No baubles. This main room is fairly bare bones. Better than average furniture that shows he has wealth, but simple enough that he doesn’t have many guests that he is trying to impress. (If he has trinkets, they are in other rooms of the cottage.)

Quillary pulls herself up to her full height (5’8”) and says, “We are looking for your Lord Viallis.” She is ready in case he bolts.

Faerl ponders what Quillary has said. "Vicious murders... and you are looking for Lord Viallis..."

Faerl becomes more intense, as he puts the pieces together. "Do you have news about the deaths of his family? That years have passed, and no one was ever charged with the crime, is a terrible injustice. Lord Viallis was broken by the tragedy, returning home to find the bodies like that... He always felt responsible, that if he was home instead of out of the city for business, maybe he could have stopped it somehow... Finding the murderers might bring him peace of mind."

Quillary raises an eyebrow, and glances at the others.

"We certainly have some information," Hildigrim continues. "That is why we would like to know his whereabouts."

Faerl waits a moment, for Hildigrim to divulge the information. When all of you remain silent, Faerl looks around at your group with suspicion, sniffs, wrinkles his nose, then goes to the front window and opens the shutters. "The fire seems be a bit too smokey. I need some fresh air in this room.

"Disturbing the Lord on this subject is a serious matter. If you are wasting his time, there will be consequences... Everyone in the village knows of Lord Viallis, so when the sun is up, just ask someone to point you to his house... I'll have to hear this "information" from Lord Viallis after I get back from Waterdeep. I am doing oversight of the businesses he has invested in. As you can see, it is getting dark, so if you have nothing else to add, you should leave so I can continue my preparations for my trip."

Quillary furrows her brows as Faerl opens the shutters, but then smiles. “Sly elf,” she says. “It is a signal, we need Good Volo out there now to see in the dark, for Viallis may try to escape!” She turns to Faerl with a snarl advancing on him, “We will not wait until morning,” she growls at him, “You will tell us now where he is!”

Quillary whispers her concerns to Hildigrim, right after Faerl opens the shutters to get more air.
Jorin, Drusk, and Faerl can see her do that, but don’t hear what she says. (That fits in with Faerl’s growing distrust of the party.)

Hildi decides to uses Volo’s senses for a few seconds, so he misses most of Faerl’s monologue and that last bit of Quillary’s demand. So after returning to his body, Hildi can notice that the tension has escalated, although he doesn’t know the details.

Jorin would notice Hildi “spacing out” (like he does when using Volo’s senses), and the concern on Hindi’s face when he “returns”.

Faerl: “I don’t know if you are robbers or con men, but either way, you won’t be disturbing Lord Viallis tonight. If you have legitimate business with him, you will wait for the morning. Either way, you will leave now, unless you want to spend time in the Greenfast jail.”

For Hildigrim only:

Jorin's hands instinctively go to rest on his weapons, he leans down to Hildigrim and says, "What did you see?"

Also, did we know Viallis was in this town??  That sounded like news to me, and also all we really need from this guy i think?

(News to us, that Viallis is supposedly in Greenfast.)

Quillary continues to advance on Faerl, her spores pooling and swirling. "Your Lord Viallis Yellowcrest is a necromancer and a murderer, having slain his own wife, children, and servants at the behest of some vile power. We have a witness, and we will see him brought to justice. You would do well to assist us, lest you spend the rest of your life somewhere less hospitable than the Greenfast jail."

Jorin presses in with Quillary and scowls saying, "You would not be the first pack-mate of a murderer we have brought to justice."

Intimidation check?  Jorin is +4

(I'll wait for DirtyDogP to respond, before moving the action forward. For now, more angry banter.)

Faerl is not impressed by Jorin's intimidation. The elf considers himself in charge of every situation.

"A witness? Lord Viallis has many witnesses for his business trip away from Waterdeep that day. Whether by location or his temperament, it is impossible he could have had anything to do with those terrible events... Your so-called witness is a liar, or deluded. You should have yourselves checked for charm or suggestion magic, as you shouldn't believe such nonsense."

"We'll have unwelcome company soon," Hildigrim says, drawing his wand. "Restrain him, please," the halfling continues, sounding calm and sure. He grasps his amulet with his empty hand, and waving his wand a little, begins casting detect thoughts on Faerl. Moving toward the window so he can see the approaching men as well, Hildigrim asks, "Where is your Lord Viallis?" and listens for the elf's surface thoughts.