Competition strikes at Sal's heart.  His hunger fades away.  We can eat later.  I'm used to slave rations anyway.  Without waiting for the rest of the group, he walks to the gate.   

"Pardon, my group and I are here to help with the advertised matter.  Is master Neville around?"  Looking at the hunter, "What brings you here?"

The hunter looks up at you. “A ‘delicate matter.’ What are ya, like a merc comp’ny?”

Vaclav's eyes return to normal as he sees Salazar head over to the gate. "Discretion people. Discretion. We need to work on it." He mutters as he walks over as well.

"You might say that. We're a group of people with special skills who help out where we're needed. We had heard there was a matter here that might need people like us so we decided to visit." 

“Special skills and help in’ out... yeah, sounds like me, too. Gonna’ be honest though, I need this job. I can’t just give it up to you. Not sure I can compete with so many of you, but I’m also thinking I’ve got know-how you don’t.”

"Such as?" Vaclav gestures for the hunter to go on. At the same time he uses the opportunity to get a better look at the gate and how the guards are stationed around it. 

"I likes Tha'," Nos Heliwr says, "'know-how you don't,' what e'er tha' means it sounds  ... expressive." The man addressing 'the hunter' is tall, well built; has very pale blond hair, almost white; greenish-blue eyes. He wears sturdy clothing colored in earthy tones and seems to have daggers stash everywhere. "Wha' bes yer name, friend?" He jerks a thumb at himself, "I's bes Nos Heliwr, of the Broken Chain's."

It appears that Nos Heliwr thinks there are a few things more important than grog and meat, like a job.

"Well... if this job is as dangerous as the gate guard is making it out to be, I don't see why we couldn't cooperate," Claire replies, having followed the others.  "After all, the only pay you can collect is the one where you're alive after the job to do so."  She smiles, hesitates, and then bows slightly.  "My name is Theresa.  It would be a pleasure to make your acquaintence, sir...?"

The hunter gets up and brushes most of the dirt from his hands before offering it to Nos and Theresa. “Louis Dustpike. Huntin’, trappin’ and trackin’. Keepin’ civil lands civil while I’m out in the wilder places. And depends on the cut and the job... I ain’t gonna’ get screwed over by somebody who thinks they can string me along for the work and only half as much coin as is mine. Equal share or ya’ll gonna find I can be mean. If ya deal fair, then I don’t see no reason why we ain’t bein’ friends.”

Salazar ponders the hunter.  Someone with in depth knowledge of the area could be helpful.  Someone who can read a room and adapt quickly usually prospers.  This fellow seems light on his feet.  Maybe there will be some benefit to this after all.

"Salazar Button.  Nice to meet you, Louis.  I can see us working an even split, especially since you've got local knowledge.  You know anything about this Baron and what kind of matter this might be?  Purely conjecture, of course."

"Well met, then, Louis," Claire says with a welcoming smile.  "I'm quite sure everyone here can agree to an equal share, so long as the payment offered is fair.  As for the details... I suppose the chamberlain will be able to enlighten us when he arrives."  

It feels a little strange, hearing herself called this strange, fake name.  Still, she ignores her discomfort and tries to get used to it.  I will not bring my family into this mess, she thinks stubbornly, conveniently ignoring the small voice of conscience in her ear:  Is the Beram family name really so important to you?  The same voice that whispers that perhaps she isn't trying her hand at this deception to protect her family, but herself instead.

@dm does Louis know anything about this baron? History 3 

nope

A few minutes later, as you discuss the offered contract and the potential to work together, the young lad who had been sent off comes back.  "Master Nevil is ready, sir" he reports back to the older enforcer. 

The old enforcer spits a wad of whatever foul-smelling stuff he's been chewing onto the roadside and looks up at you all.  "Well, as it seems you've all come about the Delicate Matter, I guess you can all go in and see the master at the same time.  Arnold here will escort you all.  Won't you lad?" he asks, cocking his head to one side.

Arnold nods, and looks at you all.  "Come with me please."

The young lad leads you through the palisade gates and into the grounds beyond.  The manor house looms high ahead of you.

Baron Gilbert's manor house is a large stone building with wooden timbers and white washed plaster running across the exterior. The roof is tiled with deep red-orange tiles. The manor house is surrounded by the main 15' palisade which encircles the whole town, and has a big gate which is guarded by enforcers. A few of the baron's enforcers also patrol the gardens. The manor house itself is two storey's high with each floor being about fifteen foot high, meaning all the rooms are large and spacious.

The Rodinian Gazetteer.

The young enforcer leads you up the main cobbled drive to the front of the house.   Here he takes a left fork which leads to the large oak door at the front of the left wing of the house. 

The large oak door is open and stood framed in the doorway is a slim, well dressed man.  Instantly it's clear from his face that he is not a local.  His dark hair and bronzed skin is different to the lighter tones typical in this continent.  He smiles warmly as you approach and bows in a courtly fashion.  His accent when he speaks is so polished and neutral that it doesn't really give any more clues as to his place of origin. "Well met, ladies and gentlemen.  I was led to believe there was only one of you arriving, but five is a far more sociable number.  I am pleased.   My name is Nevil and I am Baron Gilbert's seneschal.   Please, come this way and we will do proper introductions presently."

Nevil steps back into the doorway, beckoning for you to follow him into the manor house.

(Feel free to make History checks to see if you can place Nevil's country of origin if wished)

As they walk up the path Vaclav snaps his fingers and feels the familiar loss of Chernobog's presence on this plane. He looks around the garden as he goes, trying to commit as much of the area to memory as possible.

Once they're at the house he tries hard to remember the accent. His father always had a tick for accents, considering their own was a bit strange.

History: 13

(Vaclav, unfortunately the seneschal's accent is too subtle for you to place.  "Not Lucarcian" is about as close as you can determine).

Claire History: 13

The baron's manor house, while impressive, is not an unfamiliar sight to Claire; the Beram family has been accumulating its own wealth as well as serving nobles for many years, and Claire knows status when she sees it.  Being sure to comport her self appropriately, she greets Nevil politely.  His unusual appearance makes her review her history lessons, as she tries to place his ethnicity.

Claire is fairly sure she can place Nevil.  She thinks his olive skin tones and dark hair mark him as from the main continent and, more specifically either the main Empire of Rodinia or the democracy of Athena.  His accent is so cultured and neutral that it's hard to be certain though.

Louis follows the seneschal looking around the house, finally getting to learn the job. 
history 14 

Much the same as Vaclav, Louis isn't able to place the chamberlain, other than to say he's "not from around these parts".

Nos Heliwr (History  16) feels that the man's accent ought to be something he should know, but he can't quite place it for the moment.

"So, the Baron needs a bit o' a mess clear'd up, is tha' nae th' gist o' th' situation?  If so, I bes curious why he'll not send 'i own t' fix it?"

Nevil smiles at Nos Heliwr as the Lucarcian asks his questions.   "All in good time, sir.  All in good time."  He leads you on into the mansion.  The rooms you pass through are huge, the ceilings about fifteen feet high and full of plush and expensive looking furniture.  Much of it looks old, however, possibly hundreds of years old.  This place speaks of Old Money.

The seneschal leads you through the north wing of the manor.  Occasionally he stops to point out a portrait of one of the Baron's ancestors, or to tell you the history of an art object on display.  Soon you reach a sweeping staircase where he stops to let you all gather around.  "Up there are the guest chambers," he tells you, indicating the stair case.  "His lordship invites you to make yourselves comfortable.  There are some luncheon snacks and drinks provided in each room.  I will have baths drawn up for any of you who care to partake in one."  He is too well bred to obviously infer that you need one.   "You have the rest of the afternoon to yourselves.  You may stay here and enjoy the pleasures of your rooms and the grounds, or feel free to leave and head into town to explore a little.  I simply ask that you do not wander into the southern wing of the house.   Anywhere north of the entrance you came in by is fine, but please do not stray south of that entrance hall."   He looks at each of you in turn to ensure you fully understand his instructions.   It is clear from his look that he would accept no excuses in this order.     "His Lordship invites you to have dinner with him this evening.  A servant will come and give you an hour's warning before dinner so you can ready yourselves and I will collect you at the appointed time."

Nevil looks around at you all.  "You are welcome to select your own guest rooms; any suite on the floor above these stairs is fine.  If you are in need of assistance, just pull the chain by the doorway into your chambers and myself or a servant will be with you presently."

"Now then," he finishes, "Any questions?"

(Nos Heliwyr, you also believe Nevil's accent to be from across the water on the main continent but can't narrow it down any more than Claire at this stage)