Tiaral

Generally, I would probably start with an outpost and then build a tavern. Additional companions are certainly useful, but the chance of finding them isn't that high, and they also need to be paid. And if you don't recruit any companions, it's just a waste of -3 gold per month.

Added after 55 seconds

Well, that's not a certainty yet.

Let's build a tavern, and Lyde will visit our fortress.