"So this is the place, huh? Margrave's got a big house." Tyrion eyes the wooden two story building curiously, noting the log cabin feel and the skillion roof. "And good taste. Reminds me of home."

"The Margrave's house has been here for generations. She moved from her family home when she took the position from the former Margrave." The half-orc opens the door and steps aside to let them in.

"How'd she acquire all this? Trial by combat?" Tyrion jokes, Hope using her tail to slap him across the back of his head.

"Her predecessor was no longer fit for the job. That is all I'll say." The half-orc leads the party through the main foyer and down a hallway to their left, the last light of the evening sky peaking through the windows. Approaching a set of double doors, he knocks before opening them up. "The adventuring party known as Leur, my lady."

The half-giantess Gillian Vessar sits at a long table across from them. Some of the chairs closer to her are filled with people of various races. One rather tall and robust humanoid who seems to give off a faintly radiant aura sits to the Margrave's left, while a gnome sits to her right. A devilkin next to the humanoid turns to the party with a grin; the orange skinned being waves as her halfling companion hops down from her chair to pull a few seats out for the party.

"Hello again! Fancy meeting you here." Serenity sits back and eyes the party. "See, Gill? I told you they'd come."

Gillian laughs softly, tossing a crown to Serenity, who catches it without looking away. "Fine, you win. I'm surprised they didn't notice you at the tavern with those bawdy songs you like to play."

"Come, sit. Make yourselves comfortable." Niara smiles warmly at the group and gestures to the chairs she's pulled out before returning to her seat. "I must say, I wasn't expecting to see you guys again so soon."

"We weren't thinking to lay eyes on you either, yet here we are." Tyrion pulls himself up into a seat. Anna sits next to him, Hope opposite him, and Amadeo opposite Anna.

"So...who're the other two?" Anna asks, looking over the tall human and the gnome, and Gillian clears her throat.

"My apologies. This is Rina of the Sumai engineering guild 'The Silver Wrench'." She gestures to the gnome, who waves but otherwise doesn't pay them much mind.

"And here we have Lord Talos Yu-nas, a representative of the Loremasters."

The humanoid bows his head low. "Good evening, friends of the Margrave. We bid you welcome and thank you for your interest in this venture."

"I believe you've already met Serenity and Niara. We have one guest remaining, but he seems to be running a bit late. Thank you for letting them in, Ormund." Gillian waves to the half-orc with a smile. "When our remainder arrives, he'll see himself in. You may take the rest of the night off." Ormund bows low at the waist and closes the door without a word.

As the silence settles in upon them, Gillian claps her hands. "I hope you're all hungry. We've got a recently caught delicacy for dinner tonight." Through a door on her right comes a cart with silver platters upon it. The dishes hop up onto the table by themselves, much to Anna's delight, before the cart wheels itself back through the door.

Each dish's cover floats off, revealing quite a feast; mashed potatoes, gravy in a fine glass saucière, steamed vegetables, fresh baked rolls, and one very large bird, roasted to perfection. The size of the thing sends the party into a slight fit of chuckles. "Is that a-" Amadeo begins, and Gillians nods in response.

"A wedgefaced ostrich, yes. They're delicious if you use just the right amount of herbs and spice-" Gillian pauses when the door is knocked upon. "Ah, there he is." She stands, approaching the door as Tyrion sniffs the air, inhaling the scents of the food about him.

"Forget that salad. I can make room for plenty of this!" He grins widely, helping plate up for the others as the Margrave opens the door.

"My dear sir, it is so good to see you again. Everyone, our final guest has arrived." She steps aside to allow him in; a halfling with fine salt and pepper hair cut short at his ears.

His dark eyes examine each of those gathered, and he steps further in before finding his way to a chair next to Amadeo. "Good evening. My apologies for arriving so late."

Tyrion waves a hand dismissively. "Oh, it's no problem at all, my good sir. Please, sit and enjoy this fanciful-" As Tyrion's eyes focus on the other halfling, he drops the ladle he'd been using to scoop vegetables onto plates. It falls back into its bowl with a loud clatter, startling the others around them.

"Hey, you alright?" Hope tilts her head, and Tyrion sits back, nodding slowly. His face lingers on the stranger, who returns the gaze with equal, if perhaps separate confusion. He turns his face away from the man, not saying a word.

Gillian clears her throat and closes the door. "Well, where was I...Ah yes. Everyone please welcome Lord Phinneas Autumnsong, the leader of this expedition."