Episode 0: The Arcadian Rose

Rhodrick stands from his place by the hearth and reaches to his belt with the intention of leaving a few coppers on his stool for the night's meal. His brow furrows a bit and he shrugs, "Must've left the damn thing in my sea bag again."

Instead he heads to the bar and takes up a place a respectful distance from the rough looking man already there. Rhod's actions are noticeably steadier and his expression is now serious in the calm after tonight's rowdy crowd. He watches Rhiann expectantly.

Rhiann does not take the plate from where she stands by the front door, and stares unblinking at Haesh. "Secure enough as a room in a tavern," she says without a hint of humor, and leaves the warrior with his empty plate as she walks past to a large unoccupied table in the center of the room.

She surveys each of you with a stony expression, then draws a small cudgel from under her apron that looks like it was made out of the leg bone of a large animal. Rhiann raps the business end of her club onto the tabletop very much like a judge calling her court to order, and wordlessly gestures for all of you to sit here.

Parallel takes a seat, tossing Rhodrick his pouch as he passes him, "Do try to be a bit more observant when you role play..."

Haesh looks at Rhiann and then looks at the plate in his hand. The plate still has some crumbs left on in, so he takes a quick lick to "clean" his plate and places it on the bar.

He heads over to take a seat next to the halfling. Before sitting down he pulls his seat a couple of feet away from Parallel before sitting down. He then leans towards Parallel, points at him and says, "I've been watching you... Your size serves you well! Though I have never known of a pocketer to return his gains... Interesting.."

Naozar glides forward to join the group. Given the flimsiness of the disguise he chose for this meeting and the presumption that there are no prying eyes here, he doesn't try so hard to mask his noble bearing. Though he is far from pompous or overbearing, his nobility is unmistakable. He lowers his hood with a beringed hand but does not remove his face mask. He positions himself directly opposite Rhiann. Looking around the table he decides on a new false name for this newest mission. Greetings. You may call me Jandral." he suppresses a chuckle at his private little joke and looks at Rhiann steadily.

Upong witnessing an invitation to join, Lyss silently moves toward the table where everyone is gathering. He does it at swift, but steady pace. His steps are almost comletely silent, but not intentionaly. It was just a habbit.
"Greatings.", he said quitely as he approached. While taking his place at the table, Lyss quickly sized up everyone who gathered there. Again, just a habbit.

Rhod glances between the pouch in his hand and the smug pickpocket now seated at the table. He gives no other reaction as he moves to the table and takes an open seat.

Naozar can feel the blue-haired half-elf's eyes on him and not for the first time he regrets his choice of clothing for this meeting.

Parallel gazes at Haesh, cocks an eyebrow, smirks just the slightest bit, neither confirming, nor denying.

Slowly he says, "Hail...and...well...met," in completely neutral accent and phrasing, punctuating each word, and giving nothing away in his tone.

He then gives Haesh a big smile and a wink, "A little mystery goes a long way..."

He reaches out a hand, "Name's Parallel."

Rhod looks around at the rest of the table. "I'm Rhodrick. I figure there's no sense hiding it to those I'll have to trust to have my back. Though I'll often use others when a low profile is needed."

He then glances at Rhiann, "No offense, Skipper, but I'd wager a full silver that you know everything there is to know about us. Any chance that we could get a little more background on how we came to be here tonight? It helps to know when you're part of a hand selected crew or if you've been scraped together outta the dregs."

Haesh shakes Parallel's hand and says, "Call me Haesh."

Upon hearing Rhodrick speak he pounds his knuckles on the table a couple times and says, "Aye, let's get a move on! My hide is practically wooden from all this waiting!"

The most perceptive of you notice the faint eye-roll on Rhiann's face, but when she speaks you can practically hear the exasperation in her voice. "Right," she says, drawing out the syllable. "Well, I am thankful you all made it here alive. Though I would have liked you to have drawn less attention to yourselves, especially in a place where you don't know who might be watching." Rhiann's gaze lingers on Parallel more than usual, but her eyes sweep those gathered at the table.

"I'll get to the point. You are all operatives of the Pale Deva, brought together to act as an independent unit under my direction." Rhiann's bone club points at each of you in turn as she speaks. "You have individual skill and talent, and it is hoped that you can achieve greater accomplishments as a group than on your own.

"In that regard, we are lucky. There is no shortage of mercenary or adventuring parties out in the world, so your travels will not seem out of place. You should be able to move freely about, and it is through that access that we hope to dismantle the machinations of Caer Tan wherever we find the opportunity.

"For the most part, you will be on the road. While you are traveling, I will send directions for your next mission. I might suggest something when I do, but how you accomplish your objective is entirely in your hands. Judge your actions based on the situation. Be fluid like the ocean and know when it is best to be discreet, and when to be bold."

Rhiann idly circles her club above her head. "This is my house, the Arcadian Rose. Contrary to what you might have been led to believe, this is NOT your home. You do not live here, and I'm losing money thanks to having the entire upstairs empty because of your arrival. When you step into this room," and she taps the club onto the table for emphasis, "you are nothing. You are nobody. We don't know you."

Her expression softens, and Rhiann now looks like a weathered school-teacher or grandmother. "But here," she says, quietly like a calm tide pool, "you are safe. You can find shelter in my home. We will feed you. We will dress your wounds, both physically and spiritually. You may not live here, but you are more than welcome. You WILL have a place to rest, here at the Rose."

Rhiann's face returns to its stoic gaze. "Now, you know of my name, and some of you made brief introductions. However, not everyone has spoken up, so now is the time to reveal yourselves to your companions, and get to know who you're working with." She steps back and grants all of you the table.

During the Rhiann's monologue, Lyss listens attentively and at the same time he gives everyone at the table long appraising look. "So, that's the company I'll be spending quite some time with... Not the worst in my experience, definetly not the worst...", went through his head.

As the invitation for intoduction was made, he stood up and said: "Name is Lyss'amir or 'Lyss'. I have some... talents in infiltration and gathering information. Also have a bit of arcane abilities...", with those words Lyss creates small dancing flame on top of his palm. "But I'm not a wizard ... I'm just learning.". Faint smile appeared on Lyss's lips and faded away. He gave a small nod to everyone at the table and returned to his chair.

Haesh falls over in his chair at the sight of the small flame dancing in Lyss' hand and abruptly stands up and rubs the back of his head in embarrassment. "Uh... Yeah... Sorry about that, you kinda caught me off guard with that flame... I'll go next I guess. Name's Haesh. I've got nothing to my name 'cept the clothes on my back and whatever's in my pack. I'm good in a fight and I know my way around cities... I've developed a habit of reading others words... As long as I can see them that is" Haesh looks around and thinks to himself Am I supposed to bow or something? He then makes an awkward slanted bow and backs up to his chair while trying to maintain his bow. He abruptly sits down obviously unsure of himself.