Matthew
She'd been surprised someone listened to her random queries and actually answered them in kind. Before she'd turned away from the reality of the situation they'd likely find, Shy gave the lass a small smile in appreciation. Though her eyes were quickly transfixed on the viper as Zafeiri slithered from her perch along the dark elf's shoulder to transfer onto the elf's own. The light squeeze of the dangerous pet most would find terrifying, to Shynoata it was reassuring considering the topic change, gentle tickles across her cheek and neck made the elf shiver a bit while stifling a chuckle. Her right hand rose slowly so the snake was aware of her intention before she gently stroked beneath her chin, cool scales soothing to her as she began to pay attention to the table. Despite the deadliness of the serpent, the lass was much calmer with it on her shoulders than the trembling rabbit in her pocket was. She did have a higher affinity towards animals than people from her decade up north in hiding.

Light gray flicked between each individual as they spoke, though when they settled back onto Fae's the dusting of light pink continued to spread to the tips of her ears. She wasn't uncomfortable, just unused to others gazing upon her so intently without seeming to verify the engraved enchantment over her flesh. It still for the most part blended into her mocha skin for now. Keeping quiet for the most part as the others continued to converse. Captain Jones wanted adventure, Faelyth seemed to enjoy teasing, and Rylk was much like Indiscis, taking the whole venture as business while discussing finding the lass looking her way untrustworthy.
_ _

About to speak she flicked her eyes back towards Fae first. The magical show with her eyes was gorgeous, though the elf was quick to draw the hood of her cloak when she felt the telltale light burn of her tattoos confirming what the drow was doing. The intricate lines along her hands were the first to start their telltale glow of mana use around her which caused her to click her tongue while offering her arm to return the viper if she so chose, either way drawing her own hood over her face. Despite this, a faint light could still be seen beneath it illuminating the darkness within its confines. Trying not to draw attention to herself, the lass tucked her hands within the cloak too before she spoke in an even tone despite the hasty actions she performed.

**"I do enjoy the company of animals over people, one is a lot easier to understand their intentions. I've never seen magic used on one's eyes before, it was quite beautiful."** Shy raised her head enough to regain eye contact with the lass for a moment. **"Once we find the lad and I obtain my ingredients I'd enjoy meeting the Faequus. I've never physically seen one though their beauty is said to be beyond compare."** She quickly turned her head towards Rylkyn and Zelyvia while they discussed the shady disposition of their companion. Shynoata was a bit desensitized when it came to danger to her person considering her choice of patients tended to be those that were in the slums who couldn't normally afford a biomancer. Despite her awkward disposition, she didn't recognize Fae as a threat or believed the swamps would be any less of a threat to the assassin as the rest of them. However, she did believe he was speaking on behalf of his own point of view since he'd been fairly straightforward with expectations to her before the rest joined them.
_ _

**"Indiscis is fairly trustworthy despite what others would tell you or the attitude she displays."** She quickly gestured a moment towards the tiefling still speaking with Captain Jones before hiding her hands once more. **"I am not worried for my safety around any of you for what it's worth. As I just told Faelyth, an individual can't begin to fathom what actions another may perform in any situation while only being in control of their own actions. If it's my honor that has you worried despite my... Inadequacies in comprehending social decorum. I can assure you I will remain and keep us as intact as I possibly can while we search for the lad."**

Shy hung her head apologetically a moment before she continued while her voice lowered slightly. **"How else can anyone prove themselves trustworthy if they're not provided a chance?"**
Joshua
"By the gods, are you dull." Faelyth finally pulled away from locking eyes with Shy and looked over the fellow dark elf, bored and uninterested in his words about her 'predatory behavior'. Rolling her eyes, Faelyth finally removed her mask, though she was unsure how seeing her mouth would chance much in the way of them knowing her. She still didn't intend on sharing her last name, and for all they knew she didn't even have one. Blinking slowly, Faelyth retrieved Zafeiri from Shy and allowed her companion to slither along her arm and back to the perch that was her own shoulder before letting out a gentle sigh. "For starters, I had intended on doing this bounty myself. *Alone*. Which should tell you well enough that I can handle it *Alone*. If you're trying to threaten me by not offering a guide through a swamp I've been through once before, you're selling yourself short big man. *I don't need you in the slightest.*" Faelyth's eyes darkened, but there was sinisterly playful look in each of her marvelously colored eyes.

"If you really think you're getting rid of me, all I simply have to do is listen to what the barkeep has to say on this bounty and go do it before you even have a chance to leave Crasmere." Faelyth shrugged, knowing she had them cornered if they wished to do the bounty at all. "After all, little miss mocha needs her herbs like you said." Now that her face was revealed, Faelyth tongued her cheek in victory, a smile playing across her defined jaw with triumph. "I only approached you given that you wish to complete the same bounty as I out of respect, so rather than painting me to be the bad guy for a mask and some flirtatious behavior, why not return the same to me, hm?" Placing her mask back over her mouth, Faelyth winked toward Rylkyn before looking over to the barkeep, who'd noticed them some time ago. "Oi, Ardal Blackbough? Got a party here wanting to find your dear old brother. Bring some mead while you're at it."
.

Faelyth turned back to do nothing more than stare at Rylkyn. He sure was an annoying arse, Fae thought to herself. If she stabs anyone in the back over this, *He's first.* Nevertheless, hearing the tiefling flirt right back caused Faelyth to return to her lax self once more, and leaned back in her chair with a chuckle. "Nothing special about my skin love. All it gets me is glares and mistrust." Fae's eyes shot back to Rylkyn as she said this, which considering he shared her complexion, it made it all the worse how judgmental he was. "Aye, I agree with Indicus completely. If I was going to backstab you, I wouldn't do it in the most dangerous place this side of Gantrick. You're quite the fool if you believe so. I have nothing to hide. The mask is to simply avoid as many sideways gazes as I possibly can. People can be cruel given what our people did so long ago. God forbid one of you was a dragonborn or dwarf." In an attempt to play at their heart strings, Faelyth made it sound as though her mask was to avoid the racists that plagued each and every kingdom. Her eyes noticeably hardened and saddened a bit all at once, but with a shrug, the dark elf finally looked back to Shy with a smile.

"Her name is Renaissance, she's quite the beauty. For obvious reasons, she'll be staying in Crasmere's stables. Can't lose my closest friend to whatever the hell it is we run across in Blackwater." Faelyth let up on the flirting, sensing that anymore and Rylkyn'd throw another fit. The gentle glow resonating from Shy's skin did catch Faelyth's eye, but wishing to move on and start the hunt she didn't speak on it. Instead, the dark elf offered nothing more than a wink in Shy's direction, and turned to face the approaching barkeep with her mead instead.
Scott
Nearly jogging over, a tall earth genasi approached the party's table, and in his hand a tankard of mead for the dark elf lass that had asked for it. Handing it over, the barkeep wiped his hands on a cloth that was hanging from his belt before glancing over the present group. A look of hope filled his eyes before he spoke, his voice filled with sadness and worry. Thankfully, he had missed all of the group's discussion on bringing back nothing more than a corpse. "I uh.. Thank you for taking the time to come and speak with me, genuinely. Niellen, me brother has been missing for almost five days. I know that makes it nearly impossible to find him alive, especially with it being the Blackwater Swamp and all but- I gotta remain hopeful, y'know?" Offering a gentle smile, the barkeep cleared the lump from his throat and continued.

"I'm Ardal Blackbough, and as for information on Niellen, I can't offer too much. We live in a cottage just south of Crasmere, but still on the main road, which would probably be a good place to start if I could offer any advice. What information can I offer you? A description of him, last place I saw him?" The earth genasi's hands began to shake anxiously, the words he spew just as shaky. Ardal was scared, terrified even, that the last of his family was long gone. It was clear he was unsure how to go about doing this process. His eyes noticeably couldn't meet any of the party's for too long, either.
Richard
"Right, you've been in there once. I've only been going in and out of the Blackwater more times in the last forty years than, likely, all five of our ages combined. What the fuck do I know? Do you know land navigation in a swamp that regularly decides to say, fuck reality? Of course you do, you've been there once. Do you know hoe to avoid the predators that stalk any semblance of a trail and hide to ambush anything smaller than them? Of course you do, you've been there once. But, you can stop pretending to be innocent, I've dealt with some of the same shit you have, lived in far worse places, and dealt with far worse people than you. I know a dangerous sack of shit when I see one, and you absolutely are one. If you think that literally any sane person would believe any part of the way you've acted just in the last few minutes isn't the mark of a sociopath, then you're retarded. And it seems everyone is just ok with this and insists on blatantly hiding things from the person they are intending to trust with their lives in there. So, tell you what, no one needs to pay me. Because I'm not taking any of you. I probably would have taken you, Captain. You actually speak like you have thought about this. But, such is life."

Done with whatever any of these people intended, he'd given them an out and they insisted on simply pushing forward to die in the swamp. Even if he took them, these people were asking for death more so than any group of potential clients he'd ever seen. While he might have felt bad, he wasn't going down with them. Standing from his seat, he patted the earth genasi on the shoulder as he left. "By the way, Ardal, they 100% believe your brother is dead. So, if they come back with a couple of chunks and tell you it's your brother, like 80:20 it's not really him and they're lying to you." Sunlight flooded into the tavern for a brief second, before vanishing as Rylk left the tavern.
Connie
*He nodded as they spoke. The battle had been a thrill, but considering the animosity of the party towards each other, he wondered if it would be wise to tag along. Even so, he decided to trust his gut and tag along. He had done a number of landings in the swamp from the sea, so while he was no expert in the swamp's interior, he had a good idea of the danger that lurked within. It was unusual for Jones to be the only one asking questions about logistics in the face of potential danger, that was usually his quartermaster, but he had no intention of suicide.*

"Thank you, and should you need my help in the future, be sure to let me know," *He replied to Zelyvia's comments* "So long as we have a plan of action formed before venturing in we stand a far better chance of survival. As for her," *Nodding towards Faelyth* "I have dealt with many untrustworthy looking folk, and while some were deserving of that reputation, and others were not, in a life or death situation everyone pulls their part, or the ship goes down. While the ship is metaphorical in this instance, I do trust she won't jeprodize her own safety for some petty gains." *He hoped to get the bickering between the two dark elves over with, a petty dispute could prove lethal in the swamp with so few people to pick up slack.*

*He was glad to see the individual who had the information arrive, hoping to change the conversation away from mistrust based on appearance and over to the actual mission.* "So tell us whatever you can, where did you last see your brother and where was he going?" *But before the man could speak Rylkyn stormed out of the tavern, and with a groan, Captain Jones added,* "And something we can identify so what he just described doesn't happen."