One of Thea's sisters had identified the house about a week and a half prior to the convention.  Living in the house were multiple halflings collecting stipends, presumably on behalf of their masters?  Luckily they spied on the house enough to correct this initial misunderstanding and realize the halflings themselves were the delegates.  As a location with multiple delegates, it seemed ideal for Thea to approach, but she had no idea how to even talk to halflings.  Talking with her sisters for ideas had only made her more confused.  Dia noted that one of the halfling's gods, Thamir, was devoted entirely to murder, to an extent that even worshippers of Norgorber fear.  Reading by Thea had only identified one other halfling God, Chaldira.  A race with half of their worship being devoted to a God of Chaotic Evil made Thea uneasy.  Dia was even more worried.  She phrased it like this "Why are even orcs allowed to win their freedom while Halflings are not unless Halflings are even more dangerous?"  In fact, Dia believed they had some kind of murderous instinct.

Thea wasn't sure, but it made approaching the halflings seem fraught.  And ultimately they were just a few votes, assuming some small number of them were selected by sortition.  And possibly too stupid to vote effectively?  Apparently the average person's common sense was that halflings were like animals that could talk and none of the sisters knew anything that contradicted this, other than their innate capacity (and skill?) for murder.

Seeing that halfling (Permera, Permira?  ...she should have taken better notes) shaking with rage yet staying under control has shifted Thea's calculations.  It showed even with a halfling's murderous instincts fully active, they could maintain control.  Thus the danger of approaching them was manageable.  It also showed impressive discipline, something Thea approved of.  And with that kind of discipline, maybe Permira could focus the halflings votes effectively.

So, now, the evening of the first day of the convention, with Dia in tow for backup, Thea knocks on the door of the halfling delegates' house.

One of Thea's sisters had identified the house about a week and a half prior to the convention.  Living in the house were multiple halflings collecting stipends, presumably on behalf of their masters?  Luckily they spied on the house enough to correct this initial misunderstanding and realize the halflings themselves were the delegates.  As a location with multiple delegates, it seemed ideal for Thea to approach, but she had no idea how to even talk to halflings.  Talking with her sisters for ideas had only made her more confused.  Dia noted that one of the halfling's gods, Thamir, was devoted entirely to murder, to an extent that even worshippers of Norgorber fear.  Reading by Thea had only identified one other halfling God, Chaldira.  A race which devoted half of it's worship to a God of murderous Chaotic Evil made Thea uneasy.  Dia was even more worried.  She phrased it like this "Why are even orcs allowed to win their freedom while Halflings are not unless Halflings are even more dangerous?"  In fact, Dia believed they had some kind of murderous instinct.

Thea wasn't sure, but it made approaching the halflings seem fraught.  And ultimately they were just a few votes, assuming some small number of them were selected by sortition.  And possibly too stupid to vote effectively?  Apparently the average person's common sense was that halflings were like animals that could talk and none of the sisters knew anything that contradicted this, other than their innate capacity (and skill?) for murder.

Seeing that halfling (Permera, Permira?  ...she should have taken better notes) shaking with rage yet staying under control has shifted Thea's calculations.  It showed even with a halfling's murderous instincts fully active, they could maintain control.  Thus the danger of approaching them was manageable.  It also showed impressive discipline, something Thea approved of.  And with that kind of discipline, maybe Permira could focus the halflings votes effectively.

So, now, the evening of the first day of the convention, with Dia in tow for backup, Thea knocks on the door of the halfling delegates' house.