Asleod had been drinking his wine mostly in silence the whole time, going through a couple of mugs as people came in and started getting to know each other.  And bickering.  Well, it was to be expected, he mused, in a group this disparate.<br/><br/>After the last of the people he was expecting today came in, he slowly rose up, straightening his vest and letting his grey eyes linger on each member gathered in the room for a while.  His clothing rustled slightly, with the occasional clink of metal telling the observant that he likely had something stiffer under the understated leather vest.  The well-worn handle of his sword was also a reminder, that during his many daring capers, he'd done his share of fencing too, and he was still around to talk about it.  Or so the rumors said, at any rate.<br/><br/>"Good evening, folks.  Hopefully you've got that steam out of your system by now.  Each of you is here because you have useful skills, useful positions in society, as well as a certain mindset.  You all see something wrong with the current state of affairs in this city, and indeed this continent as a whole."<br/><br/>As he spoke, people could see the fire in Asleod's eyes.  Here was a man who believed in what he was saying.  His gaze darted among the room, alighting on persons of interest as they showed their reactions, and his left hand gestured grandly in pace with his speech.  His right hand, however, rested quite close to the grip of his sword propped against the table.<br/><br/>"You all agreed to this knowing the risks, out of your own free will. You are all here because you wish to be here."  His gaze flicked briefly to Talanna here.  He hoped the servitory elf would eventually come to understand and like the camaraderie, but knowing what he knew of her circumstances, he'd be surprised if it happened anytime soon.<br/><br/>"That is not to say, however, that I expect you to work for free.  We're brigands and outlaws mostly, after all.  So we're going to topple the Noble's rule doing what we do best:  Stealing their things and causing general havoc."<br/>Again, his eyes roved the room and gauged reactions, particularly from the actual nobles in the room, while his left hand continued to elaborate his sentences with gestures.<br/><br/>"We're going to do something no one else has managed in recent history.  We're going to drive the economy of the great houses into it's knees.  We'll be hitting the big treasuries of several rich families, even those on the Council itself.  After all, the real power ruling the city is the Council of Lords, made up of the ten currently most powerful lords.  And they wield that power through their armies.  The armies which are made up mostly of common people like us, who've sold out in the hope of more money and better life.  Thus, when we ruin their economy and get their money, we get their armies as well.  After all, military made up basically of mercenaries will side with those paying them most.  And before the year is out, I intend for us to be in that position."<br/><br/>Here his gaze focused distinctly on his nobleborn guests.<br/><br/>"Everybody here has something valuable to contribute towards this goal, whether it be extra pair of ears, information on targets or ability to get things done, all of us will be needed before everything is said and done.  Of course, after this meeting, I doubt we'll be having many occasions to meet with everyone like this, as we'll be quite busy with our respective tasks."<br/><br/>After delivering his message with flourish, Asleod grinned widely at the entire room, gave a bow and sat back down in his chair, plonking his boots up on the table and pouring himself more wine as he watched the conversational bomb he'd just dropped about the specifics of the operation have its effect.