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</span>​</div><span style="font-family: 'Didact Gothic', 'sans-serif'">It seemed all it took was Eiris voicing her doubt of Videl’s plans for people to start trickling in and heading over to their table. Hm, maybe he should’ve had her speak her disapproval more often, even if he hated it. First was a woman who introduced herself as Draya Clearwater, looking visibly worked up about one thing or another. Maybe the assassination, he saw plenty of downcast faces today on his way with Eiris; villagers crying in the streets, or putting flowers at the large fountain in the center of town, which had become almost a memorial to place offerings for the deceased King and Queen. It’d make perfectly good sense if Draya was someone who saw his note and wanted to avenge the King and Queen she’d come to love. That’d make, well, one of them. He nodded at her in greeting, and waited until she sat to speak, “Videl Xmineous. Nice to meet you, I’m assuming you saw the note?” He motioned to Eiris next, getting ready to introduce her as well since she was too busy biting into a strawberry to do it herself. “And this is--”<br/>
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<i>“I’m pretty certain she’s here because she saw the note.”</i> Eiris laughed around her bite of strawberry, swallowing it before continuing, “<i>No one would </i>willingly <i>walk up to this table and sit down.”</i> She turned her eyes to Draya and smiled at her, <i>“I'm Eiris, congratulations on being the first one here.”</i> Her attire wasn’t like a common villager, and neither was the way she carried herself, so Eiris doubted heavily she was some common folk, maybe she wasn’t even from Evidalier, and just saw the notice and needed something to do. With a quick sniff of the air, Eiris’ smile grew, and she grabbed another strawberry from the plate, the woman didn’t <i>smell </i>like a human, which was good, if that were the case she might’ve felt inclined to be a little less cordial. Not because Eiris herself hated humans, it was more like she’d only looked at a good chunk of them as food or the enemy, especially given her last experience. So, at the very least, it was good their first ‘new member’ didn’t appear to be.<br/>
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Eiris was starting to ask where Draya came from when another person was walking very purposefully towards the table. It was a man this time, and her eyebrows raised in interest as he stopped between Draya and Videl’s seats. Count him in as well? <i>“Well, Videl, who’d have thought so many interesting smelling people passed by that indiscriminate little notice? This might get done faster than I thought.”</i> Videl bypassed Eiris’ comments to turn his attention on the man, taking a sip of his own tankard as he did. “Glad to have you. I’m Videl, that’s Eiris, and Draya here just joined up.”<br/>
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He was curious about motives, they were important after all, but people could always lie. He could question why Draya was here, or even this new nameless fellow, but they could just hide their true motives from him, tell him what they assumed would seem noble, and he’d be none the wiser. Aeldredus had only given him a task and a time frame in which it needed to be completed. He didn’t tell him to watch out for anyone pretending to be who they weren’t, didn’t tell him to watch out for strangers who’d be after his own life, hell, Aeldredus didn’t even tell him where the heir might’ve run off to. It was all up to Videl to figure out on his own, metaphorically speaking, he was putting together a puzzle with all of the pieces lying face down. Unfortunately, he was almost completely in the dark with this, and anyone with less skills and certainly less conviction might have buckled under the pressure.<br/>
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While Videl asked the strangers name, Eiris picked up some of the berries on her plate and dropped them onto Draya’s, motioning to the cheese, <i>“Here, let me try a little bit of that, would you kindly?”</i> she hummed, almost batting her lashes as she spoke. There would be no need to use magic on anyone at this table, especially if they were going to be travelling with them. Exposing one of her strongest qualities this early in the game would do her absolutely no favors currently. Until she knew these people were even moderately trustworthy, she wouldn’t be dropping her guard in the least bit. <i>“What about that notice caught your eyes, by the way? It was so plain looking. I told Videl to spruce it up a bit, but of course he didn’t want </i>everyone <i>seeing it. Which makes sense, then we’d have every man and woman that thought themselves to be an explorer sitting at this little table--”</i><br/>
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Eiris stopped herself when the door opened again, twisting in her seat to watch the dark haired woman walk in. At first, she assumed she was some performer there to entertain the afternoon crowd, or maybe she was meeting some other group, but, to Eiris’ luck, the woman sauntered right over to their table and started speaking. Way more words than the previous two had combined. Videl studied her, then once again introduced everyone at the table, which he was certain he’d be doing several more times that afternoon as more people joined. “Nice to meet you, Delilah. No keep to be earned, so long as you don’t mind travelling long distances and can hold your own in any possible fights, your presence is appreciated.”<br/>
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<i>“That’s not all that’s appreciated.”</i> Eiris grinned, looking around the Inn at a few of the gazes that lingered on the table for just a second longer.<i> “You sure you want that kind of attention drawn to us, Videl? I mean, I know I’m already </i>quite <i>the looker, but I’m not nearly as loud as miss...what was it, Delilah?”</i> readjusting in her seat, Eiris watched Delilah pull the chair over and sit, and made a disapproving sound, <i>“Hmph, and she stole the seat of that poor old cat, wait ‘till it comes back, it’ll be plenty upset at you.”</i> Videl ignored the redhead's words, shaking his head some. Delilah might have stood out, but in a way all of them did, and something like that wouldn’t matter the moment they stepped out of Evidalier, so long as none of them had bounties in other cities, their appearances didn’t matter in the slightest to him. When stealth was necessary, he’d either go alone or only take one or two others for backup. In fact, he really only had one thing to say to Delilah, and motioned to her outfit as he did, <br/>
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“You might want to purchase some heavier clothes, though.” He explained, “Weather’s nice in Evidalier, but with the path I plan to take, we’re no doubt going to be hitting snow and rain. I don’t think your current outfit will protect you from the elements. Same goes for you Eiris.” the redhead in question simply waved a hand dismissively at him, knowing full well she’d just take something of his if push came to shove, or serenade her way into receiving a nice wool outfit from some stupid shop-keep.<br/>
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The group had been making light conversation for a few minutes, when, again, the doors swung open in a much more grandiose fashion, and a voice rang out announcing her presence. Even Eiris groaned when the woman entered, even though she didn’t know at all who she was. It was only by the reactions of several of the other patrons that she understood this person must've been a nuisance in the town. Great, hopefully she didn’t come over to them. <i>“Look at her shoes..”</i> Eiris scoffed, rolling her eyes, <i>“How is she even </i>walking <i>in those...oh..”</i> She closed her mouth as the woman made an almost beeline to their table, immediately holding out a hand for Videl to shake, which he did without hesitation. “Nice to meet you.” He said, nodding to everyone at the table as he introduced them...again.<br/>
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<i>“Cute shoes.”</i> Eiris purred innocently, <i>“Not very practical though, you know. We’re going to be walking through snow and forests, and I doubt those would even manage the unpaved, muddy roads at the edge of town.”</i> Her smile grew, and she popped another berry into her mouth,<i> “Just a thought, though.”</i> she turned away from the blonde after that, pulling her legs back up into her seat and focusing her attention elsewhere...like on the stretch of <i>wet dog</i> that just wafted past her nose. She wrinkled it, and glanced around, seeing no animals wandering by at all. Which was odd. No one else at the table seemed to notice either, not even Videl, who was too busy going on about something likely unimportant to her, maybe about where they’d be heading first. He hadn’t told the newcomers the objective of the journey yet, why’d he’d put the notice up, but she suspected he’d do it soon. Even <i>if </i>he didn’t give them all the necessary details just yet.<br/>
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The door chimed once more, and this time Videl did look to see who it was. Just a human, probably not even here to see them, in fact he looked like a traveling merchant, with all the baubles and trinkets he had with him. Videl considered stopping to talk to him before they left in case he had anything that’d be of use. His curiosity only peaked when one of the barmaids was suddenly insulting him, quite loudly, the word ‘Halfling’ passing her lips. Was that right? Well he certainly didn’t look the part, but looks were undeniably deceiving in this day and age. Eiris whistled, then laughed,<i> “Wow, people are just so nice in this town, aren’t they? And did anyone else smell a dog just before?”</i> She looked around the table expectantly, then shrugged,<i> “No? Maybe? Forget it. Anyway, Videl. Are we all set now? I think we have more than enough people...although the turnout isn’t at all what I was expecting.”</i><br/>
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Videl had to agree with her there, but this was preferable to only one or two folks showing up, so it wasn’t the time to be scrutinizing what’d been placed before them. “It seems so, but let’s wait just a bit longer. Even if it is just going to be the five of us, that’s better than two.” He reached into the satchel at his side, retrieving a rolled up map, but not spreading it out on the table. Instead he addressed the four newcomers as a whole; “So, I know all of you saw the notice at Wampaper’s gate, but I’d like to know what made you decide to show up and offer your services and assistance. This isn’t going to be an easy journey and inexperience will without a doubt be punished by whatever unexpected difficulties lie ahead. I won’t blame anyone who wants to back out.” <i>“Basically,”</i> Eiris cut in, <i>“If you die or lose a limb or get cursed, it’s on you.”</i></span>