Perception: 23

Elavor would enter as well, if he didnt notice anything amiss

Elavor you notice a hooded figure is watching the group from the shadows.

Petal seems concerned, “Where could the Queen and the princess be? We came here to protect them!” She asks in a hushed tone to her companions. “I hope they haven’t been taken already!”

She waves at the Aasimar and Dragonborn, ”Hi, I’m Petal! I attend to all the needs of the Firstforge houshold! You haven’t seen Queen Citrine or Princess Opal around have you? King Onyx hasn’t left me any tasks and well... I’m here to serve - that’s why they call me a servant!” She beams at the pair, burying her melancholy as she curtsies. 

"Hello little one," the female aasimar replies with a brilliant smile at Petal. "My name is Idemiah," she adds. "Nothing is amiss. No need to worry. The ladies of the house have retired for the evening. We've been sent by his eminence Jubel Baelfire for their and your protection," she adds nodding.

The bronze scale dragonborn only nods his eyes looking at each of you in turn.

"We are sorry you've had such a hard time...the road here and the lost of your king. If you should need anything we are your servants," Idemiah adds nodding at each of you her eyes on the king as he moves through. 

Onyx nods but does not linger.

Elavor will turn aside before he appears to enter,  just so he's propped against the door frame. Leaning back against it casually, the leg facing the dark figure propped up, his head resting against the frame, as his hand reaches behind his back, lightly touching his dagger. 

Lowly, he says to Varen "<Varen, dear, it seems we have someone taking interest in our travels. Why don't you escort sir Ronegan inside this fine establishment while I keep a weather eye on our new friend.?>"

 Elavor will keep his eyes on the stranger..

Varen will track his eyes and note the figure he's looking at. "<Call if there's trouble... or you see any marks of the Church.>"

She follows Ronegan inside.

Following Ronegan inside Varen finds a well lit shop with a large wooden counter and a wall of dried herbs as well as other culinary items behind it. There's also sacks and barrels of various spices on the sales floor. From the very common salt to a purple spice that gives off a visible heat!

"Good evening friends," a elderly human woman says with a quirky expression on her wrinkled face. "It's a fine night for a lovely marinade..." she says nodding her head. "What shall we make for you? We also have a sale on mulling spices," she gestures at a heated silver tea pot steaming on a coal fire. "Care to sample," she asks.

Varen examines the store, and decides on an angle to try. "Hello! Yes, we are looking for something of interest, and heard that your shop may be the place to look. I am from a place far to the west, called Deephallow. There was a particular brew there, if you went deep into the old forests and found a specific herb. Said it would warm the blood like a hot branding iron. Do you have anything like that?"

Petal laughs amicably , “You, our servants? Don’t be silly, that’s MY job! Idemiah, that is a wonderful name, where’s it from?  The attack really did shock us, so thank you for coming! Is there anything I can do to make you more comfortable?“

Petal notes the Dragonborn, “And you sir, I never caught your name? We met at the barracks, did you have any luck with the enquiry? It would make us all feel a lot safer if we knew who:was behind these attacks!”

Ronegan looks around the small shop, looking for any sign of magical residue. Rubbing his hands together, Ronegan sniffs the air speculatively. "I wouldn't say no to a sample, my good woman. And mulling spices? Wonderful! It is the time of year for a good mulled wine right before retiring.." He looks, not without interest at the various cooking spices and rubs, mentally making note of particular ones.

Stopping back in front of her he smiles warmly. "May I ask what is on the boil? Something unusual I hope. I consider myself something of a student of the rare and unusual."

Elavor keeps his eye on the dark figure... does he see them move?

Kiran bows to each the dragonborn and aasimar, "Well met, Idemiah, and sir? My name is Kiran Hallowedsworn. For myself, I appreciate your presence and any aid or information you can give us. If you do not mind, may I ask if you are part of Sir Baelfire's personal retinue?"

Ran eyes the dragonborn and the aasimar. He suspects they are here to watch as much as they are to protect. As much as he wants to just listen to the answers they give to Petal's and Kiran's questions, he doesn't know how many opportunities they will have to question them. The death of the king might make them more likely to answer questions tonight. That advantage may be fleeting.

"Do all the houses have protectors such as yourselves tonight?" Ran asks.

Party 1 Ronegan, Varen, and Elavor

"I have heard of such a brew," the elderly woman pulls up a bell sleeve and displays a myriad of small yet well healed cuts, hundreds of them which disappear up into the sleeve of her robe. "I can't say I have them handy...but could point you in the right direction," she adds nodding at Varen. "The brew," she then replies to Ronegan, "is mulled wine my friend..can't you smell it," she adds with a slight chuckle in her tone coming around the counter and taking the tea pot off the coals. "Would you care for some too," she asks Varen now. "It's a long way from Deephallow...seems you've both traveled a long way," she adds with a thoughtful look as she holds out two poured tea cups of mulled wine to you both.

Outside...

Elavor sees the figure move but they then suddenly vanish after a group of noisy revellers come through blocking Elavor's line of sight.

What does Elavor do?

Party 2

"We need and want for nothing," Idemiah answers Petal. "Rest I think you all could use it," she adds before looking at Kiran. "We are here because of him but ohf our own will too," Idemiah answers Kiran. "We are in service to all the royal families tonight as Jubel himself watches over the high king," she says glancing to the dragonborn who nods. She then looks at Ran. "Excuse Esrah it's Ran Deadgleam isn't it," se says curiously but you all know she knows all of you and well. "He's never been much of a conversationalist," she adds smirking at her companion placing her hand on thw shoulder of the bronze dragonborn who snorts a laugh that crackles with electricity snapping around his snout!

"She talks far too much and it's mostly nonsense," Esrah finally speaks giving all a toothy smile. "We offer aid to those who are true believers and to those loyal to their people," he adds with a curt nod.

"What Esrah means to say is that until the trial we'll be with you. The church isn't," she pauses glancing at Kiran but continues, "exactly providing protections to all the houses but Jubel saw fit to extend our...usual rounds to your house as well as the other five houses," she adds next.

"Tell me..." Esrah then calls out. "How do you think your king passed on," he asks as Idemiah shakes her head in disapproval. "What? It's a fair question," he says shrugging in his silver half-plate his hands resting on the hilts on two ornately decorated scimitars on his hips. "Surely they knew the king and his closer councillors," he says with a curious look at each of you in turn.

The parlor where tbe party and the paladins linger is quiet and seems empty of household staff.

Varen rotates the palm of her left hand, showing a series of slashed scars that disappear behind the leather bracer to the elderly woman. She takes the mulled wine.

"Yes, if you would be so kind, I would appreciate whatever information you have to offer. The mulled wine smells delightful! Tell me, <grandmother>", Varen says, slipping into Elvish for a single word, "Do you know that there is someone outside who seems interested in the warmth your shop offers? Is he one of yours, a necessary protection, or is he of the less upstanding sort?"

After the figure vanishes, Elavor quickly scans the alley in both directions, looking for any signs of the figure or where they may have moved. 

Perception: 18

If he doesn't see anything, he will enter the building with the intent of informing Varen of the figure's disappearance. 

Party 2 

"I'm afraid no...I don't know who you mean," the elderly woman says frowning looking to Varen then to Ronegan. "Do...are you being followed," she asks next with furrowed eyebrows as her frown deepens. "Are you in danger," she adds in a lowered tone a flicker of light in her eyes.

Outside....

Elavor spots the hooded figure. They move closer and with a grin, Lyra Cosgrove removes her hood revealing a scarred but beautiful heart-shaped face.

"I almost had you," the tall redhead says grinning. "What are you doing here? Seems a pretty tame place to be sneaking off too," she adds in a huff looking at you Elavor. "Dougal said you might be in a bit of bother but he told you I'd be back! The entire city is buzzing about the attacks! Did you hear they killed nearly the entire Pedryas royal family! Only the heir apparent survived," she adds with a grimace. "He was captured but escaped," she adds with a solemn look. "Oh..sorry to hear about your king too my friend," she adds gingerly touching your arm but then withdrawing her hand with an awkward smile. "I....," her expression goes soft, "its been ages since you've been home," she says looking off into the darken street.

Elavor seeing the very familiar bard standing there a wash of emotions filter over you ... (You can decide).

Ronegan drinks deeply of the cup, inhaling the fragrance of the mulling spice as much as the flavor. "This is delightful!" He is unable to stop himself from exclaiming, but seeing the old woman's concern he grows more serious. "We do not know if we were followed. One of our number is pursuing some figure he saw in the darkness. As far as danger, we are perhaps in danger, but one we care for greatly is in even graver danger." He looks at Varen, unsure how much more they should reveal. "Both of us have been given -- or discovered certain gifts, and we are looking for a way to use those gifts to ensure those in our charge remain safe in this...holy city." His fluffy black eyebrows shoot up his face towards his hairline as he emphasizes those last words, trying to keep his expression neutral.

Petal bows to the pair, “Well, send our thanks to Sir Baelfire! He sounds like a great person! Ronnie told me all about how he’s the Kings right hand man, and his prowess on the battlefield - but I guess his kindness doesn’t come through in the books! Our late King, he was really ill - if only we had a healer of the lightbringer with us on the trip this may never have happened! You don’t think... he could have you know... passed it on do you?”