<div class="floatleft">(http://idrawgirls.com/images/0109/draw-samurai-face.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong>Altreus<br/><br/><strong>Location:</strong>Common Room,<em>The Lady's Blessing</em><br/><br/><strong>Tag:</strong>Open<br/><br/><strong>Warning:</strong><br/><br/><hr/><br/>Altreus was not comfortable in this place. The same could be said of any building with a roof, and the mass of humanity squeezed into the four walls only made a barely tolerable situation worse. He had eschewed the food, plentifully offered by the attentive staff, and had taken only miserly sips from a simple clay flagon of wine which was, he had to admit, of more than passable quality. Dierdre, his eagle familiar, sat upon the rafters over his head. She was if anything even less comfortable than he, though she endured the smoky air stoically. He tried to reassure her through the bond they shared, mentally stroking her feathers.<br/><br/>It was important that he be here. The crew was young, not fully formed, not working yet as a unit. They had an able commander in Marcus Titus, a man who had earned Altreus' respect. But as a whole the<em>Emerald Wind</em>was still newly cast from her nest, still learning the use of her wings. Nights like this served to bond the senior crew together, Altreus knew, and so they should be suffered as much as any training exercise or practice drill. There would be time later to take to the skies and breathe clean air.<br/><br/>Altreus' practiced eye had taken in the potential threat of the other patrons, measuring each man and finding most of them lacking. To fight for survival, for honor, or for duty -- he understood these things. To fight for entertainment, or status -- these things were beneath him. He hoped that Elara Dane's maneuver, straightforward and mercenary as it was, would be enough to stave off any potential conflict. His bow would be useless in these close quarters, even if it were strung, and taking his natural form was of course out of the question.<br/><br/>"I concur, Captain," he said in a hoarse whisper. "There is nothing here worth spilling blood for. I suggest that we allow Elana Dane to attempt to defuse the situation before a stray spark is lit."<br/><br/>