Mathias politely waves off the request for weapons, holding onto his staff and using it as a walking stick even inside the manor house.  Not being the most comfortable in the "civilized" setting, the druid responds to small talk but does not initiate any, preferring to listen and take in the unusual - to him anyway - scene.

You sit down to dinner, a pleasant affair, if a bit stuffy. After dinner, the baron speaks, "I've been sent to organize the process of opening the pass permanently. Your expedition has been most helpful in getting the lay of the land. We are thinking that the next few steps are going to be to deal with what appear to be some organized threats you uncovered between Threshold and the pass. I mean specifically the goblin clan and the frankly disturbing amount of ghouls you say you discovered. I would like to propose you head out to sort the goblin problem first, and make it so that we no longer have to be concerned with them. The ghouls were further into the forest, so it will be best to hold off on those for now."

"We would obviously compensate you financially, to the tune of 200 gold each, and any treasure you acquire you keep. We can negotiate any supplies or other support you think you would need as well."