The sounds of Col's knock echoes across the well-manicured lawn of the Vanderboren estate. Even as the assembled foursome waits for a response at the door, two more people come hurrying up the walk. The first is a lean, handsome, blonde man, who introduces himself with a smile as Anar. The second is a short, stocky black-skinned Olman with a powerful build, and dreadlocks. He grunts his name, Chongo. (Players, feel free to interject a response to these newcomers, especially if you have had cause to meet them in your past).
After a few minutes, the door is answered by a familiar, wizened face. Kora the halfling greets each guest by name as she ushers all inside. She looks back briefly before closing the door, as though perhaps she was expecting someone else.
"Welcome, each of you, to Vanderboren Manor. Miss Lavinia will be so pleased you all could come, and so punctually too. Please do make yourselves comfortable. Now, if you'll follow me to the atrium, while the final preparations for dinner are made..."
Kora leads the way down the richly appointed hallway to an expansive atrium, which seems to be at the center of the estate. Hallways lead off in four directions, and an ornate fountain decorates the center of the room. The ceiling is open to the evening sky, and the setting sun casts a warm glow upon the guests' faces. Kora excuses herself while the group waits.
After a few minutes, four figures emerge from one of the halls, and head toward the party. These newcomers are a jaunty male half-elf dressed in leather armor and armed with a half-dozen daggers of different shapes; a dark-skinned dwarf with a sour expression dressed in green and brown robes and clutching a large curved spear; an attractive but haughty-looking woman dressed in dark purple robes and with a tatoo of a crescent moon on one cheek; and lastly, a tall and handsome man dressed in a polished breastplate carrying a bastard sword. (Knowledge: Local Checks?)
The man in the breastplate stops and sizes up the group before him. "Hmm. You must be the help Lavinia's bringing in to do the chores. Well, best of luck to ya!"